When word got around that Edward was heading for Risembool for a little rest and relaxation Al was suddenly bombarded with phone calls from five very concerned people. Though they would never say it exactly in those very words that they were concerned.

"Make sure he doesn't flirt with any other girls," Elysia had said. "I trust him but I'll trust him more knowing you're keeping an eye on him."

"Havoc will check that there is no missing paperwork from the office. But Ed is sneaky so if you see him working on any, just take it away," Mustang instructed.

"His medals are missing again, please keep an eye out for them," from Oscar the butler.

"Paperwork is missing from the office. If you see Ed working on something, take it and burn it. It's just to authorize pay raises for a couple of the lieutenants that don't deserve it," Havoc said laughing.

"No drinking, no smoking, nothing strenuous. Make sure he gets plenty of rest and that he is eating right." Dr. Knox said then hung up, not being one for small talk.

Al laughed. His brother hadn't changed. He was still high maintenance and Al found it funny that it now took five people to keep an eye on Edward as he got older. When Al told his brother how concerned everyone was about him, he tried to look offended that people didn't think he could take care of himself. But Al knew that Edward secretly liked the attention.

With Uncle Edward around, Al and Gloria took advantage of the situation and gave their normal babysitter a couple weeks off. Al had his classes to teach so was gone most of the day and Gloria worked part time at a local florist shop. The youngest were not in school yet so for the first part of the day Edward was left with four year old Alphonse and two year old Jessie. Then in the afternoons he would walk the two youngest to pick up the older siblings. He kept them outside most of the day. Gloria was just starting to show that a new addition was coming so Edward wanted her to rest and take it easy without having five hooligans running around the house. Edward loved his nephews and nieces and so he didn't mind watching them. He entertained them the only way he knew how. After picking up the four oldest from school he kept them in line by playing drill instructor. He would march them home, having all five sing marching songs, Jessie shouting out the only words she knew. Once home in the backyard he would then line up the four oldest, from tallest to shortest. Little Jessie, toddled around after Uncle Edward as his second-in-command. Edward would walk up and down the line, inspecting his little troop that included, ten year old Little Ed, Trisha who was nine, seven year old Gloria and last in line would be Alphonse. He would look them up and down, nodding his disapproval when they fidgeted. When they did stand tall and straight Edward tested them by tickling them to see if they would fall out of line. When they did he would have little Jessie sit on her brothers and sisters as punishment.

Al about had a heart attack when he came home one day and found Edward in the back yard with the kids. Edward was stretched out on the grass watching the kids play when Little Ed, came running and jumped onto Edward landing across his chest. Al knew where Edward had been shot was still tender and sore, but Edward didn't let it show that his nephew had done anything to hurt him. He sent Little Ed off to play and when the children were no longer watching he rolled over with his arm across his chest.

"You alright?" Al asked walking over to him.

"I'll live," Edward said looking up at his brother, squinting from the glare of the bright afternoon sun.

"Why don't you go inside to rest? I'll watch them," Al said offering his hand to help Edward up.

"No, just give me a minute," Edward said as the pain slowly began to fade. "I just need to be more aware of wild kids who want to jump on my chest for shits and giggles."

"Well you did come here to take it easy. I guess we shouldn't have taken advantage of a free babysitter so soon. You haven't fully recovered."

"I'm fine. Don't worry about it. Besides, I don't think I can move just yet."

Al sat down next to Edward and kept an eye out on the kids as they played. They didn't say anything to each other. Edward was still lying on his side with his eyes closed and Al wondered if he'd fallen asleep.

"Hey, Ed."

"Huh?"

"I just wanted you to know I'm sorry I tried to get you to leave the military. I shouldn't have used Elysia as an excuse. I just worry about you."

"Instead of worrying about me maybe you should just worry about yourself," Edward said without opening his eyes. He knew it wasn't the nicest thing to say to Al when he had just apologized. But he was still a little upset about their argument in the hospital. He had actually thought of doing the very same things that Al had suggested about teaching. But Edward's pride wouldn't let him. He had worked to hard to get where he was at and he wasn't willing to let that go. He knew he didn't have to. Elysia didn't care whether he was a General, a private or a starving alchemist. She loved him for who he was. Edward Elric. He never had anyone stand before him, ready to kill for him and Elysia had done that because she loved him even after she caught him on the verge of sleeping with another woman.

"You don't get it Al," Edward said thinking of Elysia the night he was nearly killed. He carefully sat up and faced his brother. "I want to be with Elysia and she wants to be with me, bad habits and all. She stood between me and death and she won. She deserves to get whatever she wants with no strings attached and she wants to be with me. She's the only one who hasn't tried to make me choose. You, Mustang and Gracia tried. And Winry made me choose. If she really loved me at the time, then why didn't she wait or tell me she would. Things could have turned out differently between us. I even wrote to Winry, hoping we could still be friends while I was away. But she never wrote back. It wasn't until two years into the war that we talked again for the first time and we just put what happened behind us and continued being friends. I may have let the past drag me down in the meantime but I'm ready to move beyond that now with Elysia."

"Edward," Al said surprised by this revelation. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"It wasn't exactly my proudest moment," Edward said. "I ran away from the two of you. I was scared and didn't know how to handle the situation. Not something an older brother finds easy to admit to his younger brother. Anyways, I realized something. I like being in the military, Al. Sure it hasn't been fun and games, all sunshine and roses. But I'm good at it. And I love Elysia and I'll have both and nobody is going to stand in my way. I can't change what happened in the past and I'm tired of feeling guilty over the things I should have done differently. I feel like I've got a chance for a new start on life with Elysia and I'm going to take advantage of it and not screw up like I've done."

"It's not that you screwed up. You just didn't handle certain situations very well. It's good to hear you talk like this."

"Yeah, if I don't Elysia will probably punch me. She told me to get over myself and to take advantage of what I helped to build for this country."

"I've been trying to tell you that for years. I'm a little offended Ed, that you would listen to Elysia over your own brother," Al said with mock seriousness. "You must really love her."

"I do," Edward said thinking of her green eyes.

"Fuck, I miss her," he said lying back down. "I need a cigarette."

"No you don't." Al sat watching his brother and smiled. "You don't have to stay here for the entire month of your leave. You can go back to Central and spend the rest of it with Elysia," he said laughing.

"Nah, she could use a break from me. She'll be happy she did when she realizes what an asshole I am but is stuck with me for the rest of her life."

"Boy, it's like I've got a completely different brother. I've never seen you like this. Actually, I never thought I'd ever see you like this over someone. You're love sick and that's probably why you haven't been eating very much lately."

Edward punched his brother in the arm, a little annoyed that his brother had thought he'd be incapable of falling in love and settling down with someone.

"Fuck Ed! Did you have to hit me with your automail?" He exclaimed rubbing his arm.

"Did you just say fuck?" Edward asked sitting up quickly, ignoring his aching chest, looking at his brother with mock horror. "Mr. Ed! Watch Your Language just said fuck!"

"Not so loud. I don't want the kids picking up on your cursing."

"Hey, don't blame me if they do. You're their father who should be setting a good example and you just said fuck."

"Ed, knock it off. Stop being such a smart ass or I'll have to put you in your place."

"Oh really! You think you can take on a General?"

"Please! Just because I'm not in the military doesn't mean I've gotten soft. I can still take you."

"Well, let's go then," Edward taunted. Then without any warning Al tackled his brother. Edward realized that Al wasn't going to go easy on him. Just as he was about to grab his brother and throw him on his back, Al had Edward in a head lock. Before Edward could retaliate they heard a throat clearing with disapproval. The brothers looked up to see Gloria looking down at them.

"It looks like you two need more supervision than the children," she said then continued walking along to gather the kids into the house for dinner.

"Seriously, what kind of brother are you?" Edward asked pushing Al off of him. "Taking advantage of my weakened condition."

"Shut up," Al said slapping Edward over the head as he got up.

"Wait Al," Edward said. "Come back and help me. That fucking hurt you know."

"That's what you get for being a smart ass."