Disclaimer: I don NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or the song "Mistletoe and Wine" by Sir Cliff Richard. I just love to hear Roy singing so he was my victim grinning evilly

Thanks for your support

TenshiShanai.

Chapter 2: December 24th

The snowball hit Ed in the middle of his face. He heard the laughter of his father's staff members as he pushed the snow off.

"What was that for??" He fumed and his face was red from anger. It was nearly noon and they were playing outside for hours already, but they couldn't get anyone inside. Not even Megan, who tried to force them with the promise she would treat nobody at the end of the day, who was ill. It was too much fun for them. Ed didn't felt this free in a long time, even he was their victim. His father didn't help him much as they decided that in the holidays he couldn't boss them around.

Ed could barely avoid the next attack, which came surprisingly from his father.

"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Roy snickered to the statement of his Teenager.

"Sure. But it's fun to see you fuming." That was enough for Ed. He jumped at his father sending them both to the ground into the high snow. Roy struggled under the boy trying to free himself still giggling.

"How does that feel?" Ed took some snow and shoved it in his father's face. For a moment everything went silent as Roy was stunned by his son's action.

"That was not fair, Edward." The boy swallowed as he looked in Roy's anger filled eyes and he knew that Roy just used the long version of his name when he was serious.

"I'm sorry." He bowed his head and blushed. He didn't mean to go so far. But suddenly he felt his father moving fast gripping his wrists and bashed Ed into the next snow hive. He was smirking above him.

"You should learn to differ between real and acted emotions, sweetie." His father stood up and helped Ed standing, pushing some of the snow off his coat and Ed's as well. The other guys of the gang had found another victim they could annoy.

"Now they use Fuery as their victim." The young officer was transferred to Roy's unit some months ago. He was just 18 and a genius when it comes to technical stuff. Ed did like him as he wasn't a jerk like Havoc or Breda and not so reserved as Falman. Roy bent down do Ed.

"Didn't you want to go sledging?" He had a warm smile on his face as he pushed some strands out of Ed's face.

"Yes. Do you go with me? I think Al, Uncle Maes and Elicia are already there." Roy nodded and took the boy's hand in his. Ed rolled his eyes, but didn't do anything to get his hand free. Together they walked to the far end of the garden where Hughes went sledging with the younger kids and Riza and Winry built a snow family chatting lively. They got near them as a flashlight nearly blinded them.

"Maes!" Roy rubbed his eyes trying to get the stars from his vision. Ed had the same problem and blinked heavily.

"What's wrong, Roy? Did I startle you and your little son?" Ed just heard the last part of the comment and got angry, glaring as well as he could.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE COULD SINK INTO THE SNOW AND NEVER WILL BE SEEN AGAIN?!" Hughes snickered while Ed tried to get some air in his lungs.

"I didn't say that Edo. You know I would never call you that short." Roy held his son on his waist while he tried to attack Hughes and his damned camera.

"Maes, you know that Ed is sensitive with that word." Roy let Ed down to his feet again as the teenager had calmed down. The boy went to his sibling and Elicia to sledge and get away from his photo-obsessed uncle.

"He seems more open." Hughes eyed Ed as he help the younger kids to get the sledge back up the hill. Roy nodded.

"I haven't seen him that happy for a long time. When I remember just the time some months ago, it seems he is another person now." Ed's elder violent brother nearly destroyed his younger sibling's life as he broke into the school and tried to rape Ed in the gym. For Ed's sake his teacher Izumi was there in time and rescued him. Later Ed talked to his parents and agreed to a therapy.

"It seems so. And I think his hormones are already taken command. Have you seen the way he looks at Winry?" Roy nodded to his friend's question.

"Yes I have and I already… talked to him about that." Roy blushed a bit, remembering how embarrassed he felt talking to the boy.

"You mean you scared him, didn't you?" Hughes smirked.

"I hope so not. I didn't really mention anything. He's too young for that." His voice was low as his face got a nice red flush. They looked at the playing children until somebody from the staff told them that it would be time for a late lunch now as they played the whole time in the garden. Roy had to promise that they would go sledging again tomorrow, to get Al and Elicia inside. Nobody had seen it as Winry took Ed's hand in hers squeezing it lightly as she had done the evening before.

"Walk with me?" She asked and Ed just nodded his approval. They got inside seeing Alex setting the Christmas tree down in the front hall.

"That's huge, major." Ed looked at the huge tree in front of him. It was at least 20 feet high and took a lot of space in the hall.

"Thank you, young Edward. Would you like to decorate it with us after the lunch? You're welcomed to help us, too, Miss Winry." He sparkled as ever leaving Ed and Winry no real decision.

"Sure. We would be glad to help you." Both teenagers sweat-dropped and gave him a grin.

Later, after the late lunch, the Armstrongs and their guest centred in the hall to decorate the tree. It took them some time and everyone was impressed how much trimmings they had until they got to the box with the so-called Christmas Angel in it, what should be placed on the top of the tree.

"This isn't, is it?"

"I think it is."

"No you can't be serious."

"Tell me I'm hallucinating."

"I'm sorry, I can't."

"How can be five grown men be so shocked of that. I mean you have known him for a long time now, don't you?" Ed had his hands on his hips shaking his head. The men looked at the smirking teenager and sighed in union.

"Yes, but we didn't know about that." Roy told his son still shocked. He knew that all the Armstrong members had statues on the whole estate but that was going too far. He looked up to the top of the tree. There sparkling was a resemblance of Alex himself with wings and a halo around his head. He sighed again and let his head drop. Hughes laid an arm around his shoulders and let his friend in the living room where they could hear the youngest Armstrong daughter sing 'Ave Maria'.

"Come, on. We should go." He took a glance over his shoulder and saw the two thirteen-year old standing in front of the tree holding hands.

As Roy and Hughes got into the living room the others were staring at the younger man.

"What is it?" He glanced at them seeing Riza blushing lightly.

"I told them that you use to sing when you make breakfast and now they want you to sing." Roy sighed heavily and took a seat on the unused piano stool.

"And what should I sing?" The youngest Armstrong daughter brought some notes with her and held them out to him.

"It would be great if you could sing that." Roy looked at the sheets.Mistletoe and Wine. He knew this song as it was often played in the radio and he indeed had sung it while making breakfast. He swallowed and looked at his wife.

"Okay I do it, but under own condition. I need somebody who playes the piano or something. I'm not doing that a capella." The eyes of the Armstrong family sparkled in union and soon the young daughter sat on the piano starting with the intro. His voice was barely heard at first.

The child is a king, the carollers sing,
The old has passed, theres a new beginning.
Dreams of santa, dreams of snow,
Fingers numb, faces aglow.

He closed his eyes blending the audience out, imaging himself in his kitchen while the other family members were still asleep.

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine
Children singing christian rhyme
With logs on the fire and gifts on the tree
A time for rejoicing in all that we see

His voice grew louder and he let himself carry away from the melody.

A time for living, a time for believing
A time for trusting, not deceiving,
Love and laughter and joy ever after,
Ours for the taking, just follow the master.

Roy sang as loud as he was used to. The others looked at him. They didn't know that their boss could sing that well. Hughes had heard Roy singing on more than one occasion and sneaked unseen out of the room seeing the young couple still standing there. He hid in a dark corner to watch the young ones.

Ed was handing Winry a little box with a red ribbon wrapped around it.

"I know it's too early but I wanted to give you my present when we're alone." She took it from him and opened it. Inside were two small silver creoles. She took one out and held it against the light.

"They are beautiful, Ed. Thank you." She blushed. "Would you hold them a minute? I want to put them in." Ed took the box back and watched her putting his presents into her ears.

"I'm glad you like them. My Mom helped me to find the right one for you." He smiled.

"They are gorgeous. But now you have to open my present, too." She took one of the presents from under the tree and gave it to him. Hughes was excited in his dark corner. How cute. He made his camera ready waiting for the perfect moment.

Ed enwrapped his presents and took the fluffy scarf in his hand rubbing his cheek against the wool. It was red and had the black flamel symbol on, the same that Ed wore on his red coat.

"Thank you Winry. Where did you get that from?" She smiled happily at him.

"I did it myself. Grandma taught me how to knit and I decided to make it for you." He laid the scarf around his neck and looked at her. She was looking sheepish at him blushing.

"Do… do you know what we're standing under, Ed?" She curled one of her strands around her finger. He looked up and recognised the small mistletoe hanging on the tree. He swallowed and nodded. Slowly he got nearer.

"It's an old tradition to kiss somebody under mistletoe." He leaned closer and closed his eyes.

Hughes saw his perfect moment coming and got out from his corner unseen by the young couple. Their lips met in a chaste kiss and it was over too soon. But Hughes was fast enough and could ban this moment for the rest of eternity. Both looked embarrassed in the direction where the light had come from.

"Uncle Maes! Don't tell me you did what I think you did!" Ed yelled at him red from anger and embarrassment.

"I wouldn't be so loud, Edo. Somebody may hear you. I mean right now they are distracted with your father's singing but the song is over soon." The elder man smirked. "This was so cute, not as cute as my sweet Elicia but still cute." He was in heaven and than he got an idea. "If you wish I can get you a copy of it." The teenager looked at him startled. After the first wave of embarrassment was over Ed looked him in the eyes.

"Could you make a real photo from us? Not just one we didn't know that it was taken." He swallowed and Hughes gave them a warm parental smile.

"Sure. Just stay in front of the tree." Hughes looked through his lens and sighed. "At least look at one another. You just kissed, don't be so shy." The teenagers obeyed and looked in each others eyes. What they didn't know, was that Roy had ended his song and all people were looking for Hughes and the juveniles. Hughes made his photo as Riza closed the door again. The words were still hanging in the air as Ed and Winy got into the room. Everyone was looking at them, but nobody dared to speak a word. The boy and the girl sat on the couch near to the heath trying to ignore the stares of family and friends. It took some minutes until Havoc couldn't hold back anymore.

"So how was your first kiss, shrimp?"

AN.: And another chapter done thanks for the reviews up to now I'm glad you like this story as well. Don't forget to review

Tenshishanai.