Okay so I don't have much time this morning, but I didn't want to make everyone wait 10 hours until I actually had more time, so here we are. The funny begins to come back along with more fluff. The artist who drew the fanart for Return to Amestris uploaded the picture to their deviantart account and sent me the link. Links don't so so great here, so I'll have the link in my profile under the stories info, so go check it out!

Chapter Three

Edward woke slowly at first, then his eyes shot open as he realized he was sitting up. Since when did he fall asleep sitting up when not on a train? He realized he was still in Mustang's room, in the armchair he'd sat down in. "I fell asleep?" Edward asked aloud to the empty room.

Indeed, Mustang was nowhere in sight.

Confused, and a little surprised, Ed picked up the top hat that had landed in his lap sometime during the night. Pulling the blanket off of him he stared at it for a moment before walking it back over to the bed it must have come from. He was surprised that he hadn't been woken up by Roy. Instead he'd been blanketed and left to sleep?

He turned as the door to the room opened. "Hey."

"Ah, you're awake, good." Roy smiled as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"Yeah…" Ed said and gave him a confused look, "why didn't you wake me?"

"I did try." Roy said, purposely forgetting to mention he'd only tried to do so verbally. He wasn't sure why he felt like leaving out that little detail, but he did nevertheless.

"Oh."

"I have to be to work in half an hour." Roy said, walking over to grab his military jacket from where it hung somewhere back in the depths of his walk in closet. "I'm taking a short day today though, so I'll be back around noon. You can do whatever until then, but meet me back here."

"Why are you taking a short day?" Edward asked, confused, and he sat down on the foot of Roy's bed as he watched the older man fuss with the many buttons and snaps on the stiff jacket.

"Because we have to play the perfect hosts to mother dearest." Roy said as he finally got the jacket perfect.

"Ah, yes. Can't we just stick her on a day long tour of the city?" Ed asked with a grin. "Not that I don't think she's great fun."

"I wouldn't wish her on the tour guide." Mustang grinned and walked through the bathroom door to inspect his appearance in the mirror there.

"So what are we doing tomorrow, oh winner of the card games?" Ed asked, placing his top hat on the bed beside him, clapping his hands, and placing them on the hat to return it back to the suitcase it had originally been.

"You'll see come tomorrow." He told the blonde currently rummaging through his suitcase. "What are you looking for?"

"My hairbrush." Edward said, and finally fished it out. "Now do try and contain your urges while I brush my lovely soft hair that you just want to bury your fingers in." He remarked with a light laugh and got to work taming the slightly frizzed mane of blonde hair.

Roy glared at him wordlessly via the mirror, but for some reason couldn't help but stare. He'd never seen Ed's hair down before. Shockingly he found he did want to feel that hair. That thought alone was enough to make him quickly scuttle out of the bathroom and towards the door. "I'll see you later." He called over his shoulder, and was out the door.

Ed stared after the man with somewhat wide eyes. "Was it something I said?" Ed wondered, utterly clueless as to the man's sudden odd behavior. Finally he shrugged and got up, might as well get his shower in now.

After locking himself up in the bathroom he took a short but very hot shower. The bedroom even had some steam floating around in it after Edward emerged. He dressed in his usual attire, and this time decided to pull on at least his black jacket. A look out the window had told him it was overcast today. He wasn't worried about being cold, so much as he was worried about concealing his automail arm. Most people knew by now that he possessed one, but he always encountered those stares.

He fished out his gloves and pulled those on as well before closing his suitcase up and setting it along one wall. He'd deal with it later.

Walking out of the room Edward made his way downstairs.

The smell of cooked food led him back to the dining room, and he smiled as he saw the stacks of waffles and other food.

"Well I'm glad you didn't suddenly run out the door too." Daphne said from where she sat in her chair from last night, eating a slice of bacon.

"Huh?" Ed asked with a slight frown, walking over to sit down at the table as well.

"I cook this lovely breakfast, and Roy runs out the door twenty minutes before he has to." Daphne sighed and fixed Ed with a stern look. "You two didn't have a fight, did you?"

"No." Ed shook his head, gathering food onto his plate. "Unless…" he suddenly thought back to the events leading up to before Roy had dashed from the room.

"Unless what?" Daphne pressed, spearing a piece of watermelon with her fork.

"I kind of teased him. I guess it embarrassed him, I didn't think it would have." Edward mused, then shrugged. Maybe Roy couldn't handle such comments that early in the morning, or in the area of his bedroom. It was a curious thought to be sure.

Daphne smiled, accepting the answer. "It's not like Roy to be embarrassed by teasing."

"He just can't help it when it comes from me, I guess." Ed smiled, knowing he had to keep this act up for both of them since Roy was suddenly not here.

"I'm not sure I can blame him. He really seems to care about you."

"He does." Ed said with a smile. Yet he couldn't help the bitter thought of, only because I'm a valuable asset, from crossing his mind. As gloomy a thought that was.

"Do you know what Roy plans to do tomorrow?" Daphne asked suddenly.

"No." Ed groaned and leaned back in his chair. "I asked him twice but he still won't say anything. Even if he did I'd be willing to bet it's not what he's really planning."

"I just hope he doesn't insist on some hike up in the mountains like he did last time I visited." Daphne grumbled. "I could have sworn he was trying to lose me in one of the ravines."

Ed gaped at her, "he did?" Not that he wouldn't put it past him.

"It's what it felt like."

"Great." Edward sighed and turned back to considering his marmalade spread toast. He could now see Roy bringing them on a hiking trip, and trying to lose the both of them. "What would your plan have been?"

"Oh nothing terrible." Daphne smiled serenely, "just take you two out to the lake. Do a little boating, a little fishing."

"We can always do that Sunday." Ed suggested.

"True, why don't we."

It was decided and the two of them finished eating breakfast together. Edward offered to stay and help her clean up, but Daphne shooed him out the door whilst telling him not to work too hard today.

Back in the newly promoted Brigadier General's office, Roy was sitting in his chair with a cup of coffee and Hawkeye lounging against the wall beside him.

"And that's it? You just… ran?" She finished with an uncharacteristic giggle. Catching Roy's look she frowned at him. "I am a girl, you know. Give me a break, I'll shoot you in the head."

"I almost asked you to yesterday." Roy admitted, taking another long drink from his cup.

"Why do you think you ran? Ed didn't threaten to stab you with the hairbrush if you did touch his hair, did he?" Hawkeye asked with a smile playing on her lips.

"No. I wouldn't put it past him though." Roy grumbled.

"So?"

"I don't know. This whole thing is just weird. I can't even flirt properly, I try, but I can't seem to do it. I just keep thinking about and staring at him, and I've no clue why!"

"Oh?"

"Meanwhile Edward's shooting off all the disarming looks in the book and calling me pet names left and right. Yet he still manages to argue with me."

"Ah."

"Mind giving me more than a one word answer, Lieutenant?" Mustang growled, looking over his shoulder at her.

She smiled at him. "Actually I do. But please continue fretting, it's amusing me more than aiming a gun at you and threatening you to do your work."

"Riza…" He growled warningly.

"Ask him to stay." She merely said and stopped lounging against the wall to walk towards the door.

"What?" Roy asked as confusion came over him.

"You'll see what I mean. There's a reason you're having trouble flirting." Hawkeye said and exited the office without another word.

Roy was left sitting in his office, staring at the door in a befuddled manner. "Ask him to stay? He is staying… for six more nights at least. And what does she mean, there's a reason. What reason?" Roy banged his head down on his desk. "Not like she'd tell me." Sighing he picked his head up off his desk and got to work.

Edward found himself at the office after a good half hour long walk later. Seating himself with Havoc and Breda he looked over to where Riza was sitting. "Anything I have to do?"

"No." Was her answer after she shot him a quick grin and went back to her work.

Ed blinked, shrugged, and turned back to the men. "So what did I miss yesterday?" He asked, and gazed down at the crossword puzzle they were trying to solve.

"Not a lot." Havoc admitted.

"How'd things go last night?" Breda asked with a grin, "did you and your fiancé have a nice time?"

"He cheated at cards, I punched him, it was a good night." Ed divulged.

"How's that healthy sex life going that you two are supposed to have?" Havoc asked as they all laughed, even Hawkeye gave a short chuckle.

"Couldn't get enough of me. And I'm the one who gets called insatiable by the bastard. The nerve." Edward said with much theatricality.

"So when's the wedding set for?" Fuery asked as he walked over.

"I was thinking during the winter. A nice white wedding." Ed laughed.

"Ed, if you're going to pull this off, we better get going. I just remembered something." Hawkeye said, suddenly standing.

"Eh?" Ed blinked at her.

"As a matter of fact, let's all go. Someone go find Falman." Riza directed.

"Where are we going?" Ed asked as he stood.

Riza smiled at him mysteriously, "it's Roy's birthday on Sunday. You need to get his gift now."

"I have to get the bastard a gift?"

"That bastard is your fiancé for six more days." Hawkeye smirked at him. "You'll be expected to give a gift."

"So why are we going?" Havoc asked as Breda and Fuery went off to find Falman.

"You need to get him gifts too. And no, you cannot buy him matches again as a joke." She told Havoc firmly.

"Damn."

Ed laughed at the idea. "I'll bet that pissed him off to no end."

"Oh it did."

While everyone assembled Hawkeye poked her head in through Mustang's office door. "I'll be back later. I expect everything to be done." She said before hurrying away, the others close behind.

A short drive and a quick stop at a smoothie stand later found the six potential shoppers in rather extensive store with several floors that appeared to have everything from food to new mattress sets.

Edward swirled his spoon in his purple colored smoothie as he looked around. "So what do you get for a guy like Mustang?" He asked, cocking his head in Riza's direction.

"Well certainly not matches." She grouched at the disappointed looking Havoc.

"Boss," Breda said, turning to Edward, "you've been in his house. Tell us what he has in there."

Edward frowned at the curious looks that were suddenly on all the faces, including Hawkeye's. "You've never been inside his house before?"

"No." Was the general consensus.

"That's weird…" Edward said with a frown. Just why did Roy have so much stuff then? So many guest rooms that he knew were furnished. He knew Roy took dates home probably, but he couldn't see them spending time in a guest bedroom for the nightly sleepover. Everything in that house told Edward that it was a house meant to host large groups of people, perhaps even a party or two. So why was it so empty of life?

"You okay?" Havoc suddenly asked.

"Yeah." Ed said quickly, shaking away his thoughts of concern. "Well, I've not been in all the rooms yet. But I have a feeling he likes to read, and cook. And he likes things that are dark blue and silver."

"Okay, let's start with that." Hawkeye decided.

They all broke off to start looking, leaving Ed with more than just the thought of what to get Mustang as a gift on his mind.

As Edward wandered the aisles of things he couldn't help but wonder why Roy had bought such a big house, much less furnished it as he did if he never had any large number of people over. It kind of worried him.

"Can I help you with anything?"

Edward's head turned as a salesman about his age walked over. "I don't think so, I don't even know where to begin."

"What are you looking for? Anything particular?"

"A gift for someone."

"Male or female?" The salesman asked, studying Edward with a curious smile.

"Male, most definitely." Edward laughed shortly.

"O-oh." The salesman winked at him. "You like this guy, do you?"

"What?!" Edward spluttered as a blush came over him. "I do not, the guy's a bastard!"

"So why are you buying a gift for him?" The salesman asked, leaning casually against the shelf to study Edward.

"It's… complicated." Edward said and turned back to staring, but not seeing the objects on the shelves.

"I love complicated things, especially when they're cute." The salesman said and looked from Ed to stare over at the shelf as well. "My name's Bo-"

"Edward!"

Both Edward and the salesman looked over as Hawkeye suddenly came swooping down. "Hey, find anything yet?" Ed asked as she came over.

Riza glared at the salesman. "Yes, tons of options, let's go." She said, and promptly began to drag Ed off by his elbow.

"Hey, Hawkeye, what's wrong?" Ed asked as he followed along with her.

"That guy was flirting with you." She said in reply, releasing his arm at last.

"Yeah, so?" Ed asked, "it's not like I was interested."

"Don't argue with me, Major Elric."

Edward might have let a squeak out at the growl in her voice, but didn't. "Yes ma'am." He replied weakly. He felt as if Daphne were suddenly there instead of Hawkeye, rebuking him for letting another man exchange over friendly words with him.

The shopping excursion took them a good few hours through which Ed knew he was being monitored closely by a pistol armed blonde. "You'd think I actually was marrying him." Ed mumbled darkly as he finally paid for his gift and left the checkout line with the plastic bag in hand.

Ed walked over to join all the others, and set the bag with the gift down on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Hawkeye asked him.

"Gift wrapping it. I'm not about to do it by hand." Edward said, clapped, and placed his hands to the bag.

When the blue light faded, the gift was wrapped in shiny dark blue paper with silver trimmings. He did the same for all of the other gifts, before they all headed out the doors of the store.

"I better get going." Ed said, having pulled out his state issue pocket watch to check the time. "I have fifteen minutes to get there."

"Bye Ed!"

"Bye boss!"

The calls echoed behind him as he waved, running off.

Edward ran all the way to the house while stuffing the present into an inside pocket of his black leather jacket. He reached the drive just as Roy made it to the front door. "Hey!" He called out, and finished his dash up to the door.

Mustang had paused to wait for the blonde before opening the door. "Hey, where'd you all go?"

"Shopping." Ed grinned. "You didn't tell me it was your birthday soon. Planning on making me stress the morning of?"

"That had crossed my mind." Roy smirked and shoved open the door.

"Way to feed me to the sharks." Ed glowered as he entered after Mustang.

"There's nothing wrong with a little payback, dear." He said with a smile as he closed and locked the door behind them. "So, what'd you get me?"

"A book of matches." Ed grinned cruelly and did a collected backward flip, launching off his hands again to land on his feet easily.

Roy glared, having missed decking the blonde. "Little gymnast, aren't you."

"Little?" Ed's eyebrow twitched as his eyes narrowed.

"Need me to spell it for you?" Roy offered with a smug look on his face.

"Only if you spell it in the form of a cheerleading song." Edward taunted cheerfully. "Come on now, give me a 'L'!"

Before Roy could do more than look properly irritated at such a suggestion, Daphne appeared. "There you two are." She said and marched past Ed to hug Roy before the man could even think of making an escape.

"Mom, please." Roy wheezed as he was crushed.

Edward cracked a merciless grin at the sight. Daphne must be one strong lady. He was not prepared for when she suddenly grabbed and hugged him as well. He barely managed to withhold the squeak that wanted to escape him. This woman had a hug like a vice! Armstrong had competition here!

"Now come along. It's time for a nice light lunch and then I thought we should go for a walk in the park." Daphne said, heading off to the dining room, dragging Ed with her.

"Are you trying to steal my fiancé?" Roy asked calmly as he stalked after them.

"You know I belong to you." Ed replied, shooting him a wink over one shoulder.

"I told you, if I were thirty years younger I'd steal him away from you." Daphne reminded him with a laugh and looked over at Ed. "But don't worry. I'm happy enough with you as a son in law."

"That means a lot to me to know I have your approval." Edward smiled back at her easily. "I wouldn't want anything to come between Roy dearest and I. He's such a catch, that hunk of man."

Edward had to admit though, this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought just to "break up" at the end of all this. He'd thought it wouldn't be hard, that he'd just never think about it again. Yet he actually was growing to be quite fond of this woman in a way a real son might be. He liked Daphne, and he didn't want to hurt her feelings after she'd so vocally been supportive of his being "engaged" with Roy. He hoped there might be some way at the end of all this where he might be able to still maintain some sort of contact with her.

The three of them sat down to a light lunch of sandwiches and tea.

Edward had to admit, it was rather good. "You are an excellent cook, Daphne."

She smiled at the compliment, "thank you. That's very kind of you to say. I'm afraid I am nowhere near as good as Roy however."

"Nonsense, I have alchemy to help me." Roy smiled over at her, "you could beat me any day if I didn't."

"But you have to know what you want, right?" Daphne asked.

"Yes."

Edward looked over at her. "You're not an alchemist?"

"Dear me, no." Daphne laughed, "I never had the patience for it. But Roy, if you have to know what you want, and are able to create it, then that too is a mark in your favor."

"Turn this into a scone for me." Edward suddenly said, putting a corner of bread onto Roy's plate.

Roy looked at him sharply, "I don't think I should."

"Nonsense. Please? For me?" Edward asked with a sweet smile.

Roy felt himself blush a bit, and willed the heat to leave his face. What was wrong with him? "Fine." He said with a hint of grouchiness in his voice.

Daphne looked between them and smiled to herself. This was the first relationship she'd ever seen her son in where the man actually would blush from just a few simple words and a smile. Yet he seemed to be anxious over his reactions to Edward.

Mentally Roy was beating himself up, why was it impossible for him to actually flirt with Edward? Edward actually looked better than a lot of the girls he'd brought home because he was hammered drunk and could have thought a dog's rear end was the most beautiful thing ever. So why couldn't he flirt with Ed? He was trying, but instead the words kept getting caught somewhere. Riza had mentioned there was a reason, but what reason?

He suppressed a groan and turned to the piece of bread in question. He just hoped he didn't charcoal it in the process. The arrays on the backs of his gloves weren't always stable when it came to using them for this sort of alchemy. Hoping this went okay, he clapped his hands together and placed his index fingers down against the bread as there was a flash of light.

"Here you go." Roy said in relief, picking up the cinnamon scone and handing it to Edward with a smile.

Edward took it, not looking away from Roy. The man was really smiling, and it was one that was reaching his eyes. Though if he had to make a guess, he'd bet Roy didn't even realize he was smiling. "Thank you."

"Well, Ed, how is it?" Daphne asked.

Edward turned to the scone, and took a tentative bite. For all he knew, Roy could have poisoned the thing, though he hoped not. "Wow." He said as soon as he'd finished chewing and swallowed it. "It's amazing."

"I knew it." Daphne beamed proudly.

"Thanks." Roy said, and busied himself with another sandwich.

Edward glanced his way and suddenly offered the scone to Daphne. "Try some." And as she took it, he suddenly reached over to snatch the sandwich Roy had grabbed out of the man's hand. "Uh-uh." He said sternly.

"What's the idea?!" Roy glared at him, and made a swipe to retrieve his sandwich halve.

Edward fixed him with an unrelenting look. "You've had six already. That's three sandwiches. You never eat this much. You're stress eating."

"Am not!" Roy hissed and made another swipe. "Give it back!"

"No." Edward said firmly as Daphne looked on. "You're stress eating and you know it. I don't know why you are, but you are. You're large enough without eating more."

"I'm not fat!"

Ed snorted and looked Roy over. "No, you're not. But you will be if you stress eat. You're a good two inches wider than me around the chest at least. If you get fat because you stress eat you're going to burst out of your clothes like Armstrong one day. Not that I'd mind, but it wouldn't be because you were flexing muscle."

"I am all muscle already." Roy growled and made another fruitless swipe for his sandwich. "Or do you need another demonstration?"

Edward smirked. "I always welcome another demonstration. You know that. However I like you as you are, and you do not need this sandwich."

Daphne saw Roy's eyes look toward the platter, and suddenly pulled it to rest between her and Edward.

"Hey! No fair being on his side. You're my mom!"

"And your fiancé has a good point. You're stress eating, as your mom I know that as well. I'm surprised that Ed does though. He actually knows even your stress signs." Daphne smiled over at him. "For that, I'm willing to take his side in this and not let you act all adult and stress eat just because you're grown up."

Roy turned his black eyes on Edward, and instantly those molten gold eyes were boring right back at him, a steely gleam in their depths. "Fine." He gave in after several long seconds of their stare down, and turned back to his tea.

Edward shared a smile with Daphne before they finished lunch.

"I'll clean up." Daphne said as they began to get up. "Then we'll go for our walk."

Edward was about to offer to help when he suddenly went after Roy who had just turned on his heel and strode from the dining room. He didn't know why he'd followed so soon, or so quickly, but he never saw Daphne's smile as he did.

Hurrying out of the dining room after the older alchemist he dashed forward to grab at Roy's elbow. "Hey, Mustang. What's wr-"

The next thing he knew he was pinned up against the wall, both of Roy's hands firmly on his shoulders.

"Don't try denying me anything anymore, Edward." Roy said, his eyes boring into those indignant golden ones.

"I'll deny you whatever I wish." Edward snapped back, not bothering to try and shake Roy's iron grip off. "I'm not about to sit idly by and watch you gorge yourself because you're stressed about something. What the hell were you even stressed about? All I did was ask you to make a scone."

"Exactly! You asked me to… and I did… and I was happy when you were so pleased… and I don't get this!" Roy vented, unknowingly bowing his head closer to Edward as he did so. "And I can't even manage to flirt with you, this whole thing is doomed because I can't do it."

Edward blinked at him, the indignant glitter in his eyes slowly beginning to ebb. "That's what's really upsetting you?"

"Yes." The word was little more than a frustrated whisper.

Edward's face suddenly softened to a smile. "You don't have to flirt with me. Don't you see?"

"What, like you being the only one who can do it is going to convince her? She's easily tricked, but not blind." Roy groaned, his grip relaxing somewhat on the shoulders he still held pinned to the wall.

"You made me a scone." Edward told him.

"Don't rehash my words."

"I'm not, I'm trying to make a point." Ed explained, "you're doting on me. It's just a dif-" Ed suddenly paused and stared at Roy with wide eyes. "Oh… oh." He turned his head away. "You've never doted on any of those girls before have you. Tried to make them happy even if they asked you to do silly things?" Edward realized slowly.

"No." Roy said. He hadn't, now that he thought about it.

Edward bit his lip. He wasn't sure how he felt about this, he'd not given it too much thought before now. He couldn't allow himself to think about it though. It was just Roy playing the part, just better than he thought he was. No use getting such thoughts.

"Ed, what's wrong?" Roy asked, seeing a strange look in Edward's eyes. It almost looked as if the blonde was accepting something that he didn't quite want to.

"Nothing." Ed said shortly, shaking his head a bit. "Just, don't worry about it. I haven't been doing so great at the flirting thing yet either today."

"Don't lie to me either, it's not nothing." Roy said, and as if it had a life of its own one of his hands left Ed's shoulder to raise towards the blonde's face. Yet he didn't try to stop whatever it was he was doing. It felt right to him, so why stop it?

Edward felt his breath hitch in his throat as the combination of Roy being so close, and slowly coming closer, and that hand raising made him feel strangely alert. Feeling the gloved hand brush against his jaw he fought to keep his exhaled breath from shaking as he kept their eyes locked.

"There you two are." Daphne said, coming around the corner. Her green eyes landed on the two as Roy suddenly sprang away and both looked everywhere but at each other. She smiled wickedly, "am I interrupting?"

"No." Roy said quickly. "Nothing to interrupt."

"You sure?" Daphne asked, the wicked grin still on her face. "It looked like it was about to get pretty exciting there."

Edward blushed, hurriedly trying to calm his racing heart.

Roy too felt a hint of a blush coming on, "I don't know what you're talking about. Old age is making your brain all strange."

"Old?!"

Edward silently thanked Roy for quickly distracting Daphne. It gave him the opportunity to school his features back to normal again. What the hell had nearly just happened?! Taking a deep breath he joined the other two as they began walking towards the front door, still arguing about whether or not Daphne was old.

At the front door Daphne turned to the coat closet off to the side and opened the door to pull out a plain black flannel military jacket and tug it on over her light blue dress. Once she was properly clothed for the overcast weather outside the three of them exited the house to begin walking towards the park.

Daphne had purposely placed herself on the inside of the sidewalk, forcing Ed and Roy to walk next to each other. She knew she'd embarrassed them both, and her delight in it was putting the two of them close together again.

Edward had ended up in between Roy and Daphne, and was looking dead ahead, as if any deviations would be fatal. Roy too was looking dead ahead, not even daring look over past Ed to where his mother walked looking so pleased with herself.

"So, Ed," Daphne began when she realized that neither would start speaking unless provoked. "Were you and Roy thinking of having a big wedding or a small one?"

Edward stopped himself from starting on the spot just in time. "A small one I think. I don't have that many friends or family I'd be inviting. Besides, a quiet wedding has always seemed ideal to me."

"Yes, a small wedding for sure." Roy agreed, having apparently gained back the ability to speak about the matter.

"Tell me how he proposed." Daphne ordered as they began to walk through the grass of the park.

"Well," Edward thought quickly. He was still thinking about what had happened in the hallway, and each time he thought about that hand against his skin, and the closer Roy had seemed to get with every passing second was clouding his mind. This was no good, he was losing his edge. "It was in the dining room…"

"The dining room?"

"Yeah." Roy provided.

"Over a romantic dinner. It's kind of personal…" Edward hesitated, floundering for some sort of out.

Daphne smirked and suddenly grabbed Edward's hand. She'd noticed this before and not said anything, she'd been waiting for the perfect moment. Now seemed to be it. "Where's your ring?"

Edward nearly turned white, but somehow he managed to hold himself together and he turned to Roy. Looking at him for the first time since the hallway. "Yes dear, where is my ring?"

"Where'd you put it last?" Roy asked back, attempting what he hoped came off as a curious smile towards his fiancé.

"We'll have to look for it. Where's the last place you had it on?" Daphne asked.

Edward finally pulled himself together and looked over at Mustang shyly before smiling at Daphne. "In the library."

"You put it down to climb the ladder or something? It must be on a bookshelf then."

"Oh, not quite." Ed said and suddenly went for it. He had nothing to lose after all. "We weren't exactly doing anything that had to do with books. If you catch my meaning. At least, not any books you'd find in the children's section at the bookstore."

"Ah, we'll have to search the floor then."

"And the tables."

"Tables?"

Ed grinned over at Roy. "He was very feisty that morning."

"Morning?"

"Yes, morning, noon and night. He was insatiable." Edward continued, undaunted.

"Ed!" Roy spluttered as his mom nodded with a smug look.

"Yes?" Edward turned to stare at him, "I told her I thought you were a beast. There's a reason for that."

"Now Roy, don't look so shocked. I am your mother. I have known the type of life you've led before you caught this one." Daphne reminded him.

"That's still personal though!"

Edward suddenly gave him a thoughtful smile. "It could be, shall I tell her all the juicy details?"

"Don't you dare!" Roy hissed, knowing the blonde would come up with some more embarrassing lies to tell his mother.

"Of course, darling." Edward smiled. "Whatever you wish, after all, I wouldn't want to deny you anything anymore." He said, and was rewarded by the flush on Roy's face. With a smirk he inhaled a deep breath of cool overcast air, at the same time scenting what might be coming rain. It would be nice if it did rain… he liked the rain, even if it did hold some not so great memories for him. "Excuse me for a moment, I need a drink." Ed said upon spying the water fountain, and hurried off. In reality he just needed a brisk short walk to get his thoughts all back in order.

Roy watched him walk off, his black eyes thoughtful. As his mother cleared her throat though, he looked over at her critically. "Need a cough drop, or are you just being a pain again?"

"I am not a pain, I am your mother." Daphne told him. "And you're more like me than you care to admit."

"It's a good thing I love you then, otherwise I'd consider that something less than a compliment."

"Why do you distance yourself from him?"

"Forgive me for not wanting to ravish my fiancé in front of my mother." Roy grouched and looked back towards where Ed was now standing, looking up at the sky.

"Roy, throwing him down on the dining room table and ravishing him is one thing." She told him frankly. "But I haven't even seen you hold his hand since I've been here. The only physical contact had been you grabbing and dragging him somewhere." She then continued after a pause, "and of course that little scene I interrupted earlier."

"There was nothing to interrupt." Roy's tone was gruff, and unyielding.

"Well there better be soon." Daphne sighed and correctly interpreted the look her son shot her. "Nothing like that. But as much as I can see that you two care for each other, I think you need to allow yourself to at least be publically acceptably intimate with him. Otherwise I fear you might push him away. Don't let my being here get in between you and the one you love."

"I don-" Roy's words ended abruptly as he thought about what he'd wanted to say. Don't love him? His mind questioned. It was a question he didn't know how to answer yet, and looking over at Edward who had turned to come back their way wasn't helping any. The thought that those words would have blown their whole act up till now didn't even enter his mind. "I'll talk to him about it. I don't want to embarrass him."

"As if anything could embarrass him." Daphne muttered to herself, but did not follow her son as Roy walked to meet Ed in the middle.

"I need to touch your butt later." Roy said as he reached Ed.

Whatever Edward had been expecting, it was not that. His mouth actually hung open for a few seconds before he had the good sense to shut it. "Excuse me?!" He asked, barely managing to keep his voice down.

"I," Roy jabbed his thumb at himself, "need to touch your," he now pointed at Ed, "butt later."

"You want to or you need to?" Ed asked with a frown, folding his arms over his chest.

"She wants to see more intimacy between us."

"And you believe the best way to show that is by groping my ass?" Ed raised an eyebrow at this, and then suddenly smirked before starting to circle a suddenly decidedly nervous Roy like a lion inspecting a wounded antelope. "Are you making this up, or do you really want to lay a hand on my firm, delectable hindquarter?"

"I do."

"To which question are you answering, darling?" Ed asked, stopping before Roy again.

"All? Wait! No, er... yes… er, why are you laughing?!"

Ed managed to stop the roll of laughter, but did not wipe the smirk off his face. "And what law dictates that it cannot be I, who lays a hand on you in a groping manner?"

"You wouldn't dare grope a superior officer." Roy said, brows knitting together in a frown.

"You'd put that past me?" Ed asked, still smirking in a disconcerting way. "Shall I list for you the deeds I do to you already that I should not be doing?"

"Save me the drone."

"So again," Ed said, stepping closer to Roy, his golden eyes brighter than normal, "who's to be groping whom? Whose ass is on the line here, so to speak?"

Roy for some reason was finding himself hypnotized by those golden eyes. He was just about to answer, what he didn't know, when suddenly the sky broke open into the downpour that had been building since morning.

"Roy! Ed!" Daphne called from where she stood, still a ways off. "We best get back inside!"

Roy and Edward looked away from her, back at each other, before following after her back to the house.

"I have a better idea." Ed said just before they entered the house. "No touching of butts required. Unless of course, you want to." He said as an afterthought and shot Roy a wink which left the man feeling nervous and confused all at the same time.