July 15th, 1964

The late afternoon sun was glinting off the ocean as Cal lounged on a deck chair, sipping a cool beverage made of crushed ice, soda water, and several tropical fruits. It was refreshing, particularly in the summer heat.

"Well don't you look comfortable."

Cal tilted back his sunglasses and peered up at the woman standing beside him. Fabulous curves, coiffed hair, legs that went on forever… sexy dress in a deep summer blue. "I'd be more comfortable with you on my lap."

"I bet you say that to all the pretty girls."

"Nope," Cal reached up and grabbed her hand, pulling her down so she sat beside him. "Just you."

Alyse laughed, even as she clutched the edge of the chair. "Calvin! Be careful." She glared at him, but there was more amusement than anger on her face. "You'll muss my dress. We haven't even gone out yet."

"Are we going out?" Cal asked, suddenly curious.

Alyse smiled mysteriously. "Well I don't often dress up to stay in."

"Fair enough." Cal set his drink down on the little white wrought-iron side table. "What did you have in mind, gorgeous?"

"Oh… I found a little place I thought you might enjoy." Alyse's grin widened as she held out a couple of tickets.

Cal focused on them for a moment, reading the words Blue Skies at the Club Leone d'Oro. "I didn't know they were playing in Pylos." They were one of his favorite Jazz Bands, aside from The Frisky Five. It had been years since he had seen them live.

No wonder his wife looked like a cat in the cream. "I'm told the food at the club is also quite good. It's a high quality establishment."

"Then maybe they shouldn't call it a club," Cal teased, but he pulled her close and kissed her. "You're amazing, but aren't I supposed to be the one romancing you?"

Alyse kissed him back. "I plan parties professionally. I'm not allowed to take you out once in a while?"

"A fair point," Cal admitted with a nod, and a smile. "I guess I should get changed into something more appropriate for a night on the town."

Alyse stood, holding out a hand as Cal got to his feet. She had one of those looks in her eyes. "Oh, don't worry. I've got your wardrobe all picked out."

As it turned out, "all picked out" meant she had a very fashionable pair of summer weight khaki pants and a blue collared, button down silk shirt that matched her dress almost to perfection waiting in their room, with Cal's favorite pair of comfortable brown leather shoes. Cal left the top button open, of course, but it was a nice effect.

It turned out it wasn't more than a mile to the club, so Cal and Alyse elected to walk, taking in the summer air and admiring the sunset as they walked to the club. Cal slipped his arms around his wife's shoulders, and tried not to grin when some of the other men on the street took second-glances at his wife as they walked by. That's right, fellas. This one's mine.

They arrived with plenty of time, got a good table, and looked at the menu. It was a nice club, Cal had to admit, with an atmosphere that somehow blended modern and "ancient Cretan" in a way that was stylishly current and timeless all at once. The food looked good too. "Did whoever recommended the place make any suggestions by chance?" he asked Alyse.

"Thrakos' mother recommended this place actually," Alyse opened the menu. "She suggested the scallops, and the '65 Raseillan white."

"Wine?" Cal looked wistfully and skeptically at the glasses on the table.

"One glass, with the permission of your physicians," Alyse assured him with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.

"Did you really ask Ethan's permission for me to have a drink?" Cal wouldn't have put it past his wife. He also wasn't sure he liked having to ask permission.

"I only asked him if it would be safe," Alyse answered softly. "I hope you don't mind."

"No, I don't mind." She had gone through a lot of effort to set up a romantic evening, who was he to spoil it? Cal smiled and reached out, taking her hand in his. "I'm looking forward to a hot night with my favorite gal."

The pages hadn't moved in ten minutes. Not that Ed made a point of spying on people, but he had been looking for something to read in the Argyros family library, and Franz, sitting in a high-backed leather chair, had ostensibly been reading the whole time he had been there. Except he was staring straight past the pages. "Something wrong?"

Franz looked up from his book. "No, why?"

Ed dropped into the chair across from him, leaning back into its comfort as he eyed his son-in-law. "You've seemed preoccupied most of the trip. You ought to be enjoying your well-earned vacation, not staring blankly through books and hiding in corners."

"I'm not hiding."

"Well you're not reading either," Ed pointed out. "I know you've got something on your mind, Franz."
Franz looked irritated, then he sighed and slid his leather bookmark into his book, setting the closed volume on his lap. "You've always been too observant."

"You've never been hard to read." Ed shrugged. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Franz didn't answer immediately, clearly deliberating how much he wanted to say, or what. Finally, he nodded. "Rehnquist has asked me to be his successor."

Ed blinked. That hadn't been what he was expecting to hear, but a moment's consideration took the edge off his surprise. There were few people more qualified –if any- to take Rehnquist's place. Ed knew the man had been planning his retirement for some time. It had been delayed by the unexpected eruption of hostilities in Xing, but Franz had certainly proven himself capable of handling that situation. On top of that, he had worked in the office of the President of the Military through three administrations. "Congratulations! I take it he already has the approval of the Assembly?"

Franz nodded, though his expression was sober, not the look of a man excited to be offered such a prestigious office. "All he needs is my agreement. I told him I'd give him my answer when we get back."

"You have doubts."

"I feel… conflicted," Franz corrected, and Ed waited patiently for him to explain the distinction. "I've known three Presidents of the Military. I've watched each of them manage things differently; analyzed their strengths, their weaknesses, their abilities and their approaches."

"I'm not sure how that's problematic," Ed admitted.

"It's just that, to be honest, I can't shake the feeling that I'm the second choice."

"Who else would they ever have-" Ed didn't bother finishing the question. The expression on Franz' face was all the answer he needed. "No, Franz," he shook his head. "Sara took herself off that track years ago, by choice. She wanted to teach. More than an officer, she always had the heart of an alchemist. She was never happy behind a desk, and you know it."

"Do I?" Franz shook his head. "I know Sara would be happy for me, Ed. She wouldn't be jealous, but I don't know what she'd think. If she'd approve. If it's the right thing to do."

What he was going to say next was going to hurt. "Sara's opinion doesn't matter."

Franz stared at him as if Ed had just said something blasphemous. "What do you mean?"

Ed swallowed. "What matters, Franz, is what the right thing is for you to do, now; for you, and for Amestris. If Sara were alive, then yes, this would be a very important question, but she's dead. Trisha and James are grown. You don't have to worry about the effect this will have on your family, or your personal life. Your children will understand. They'll probably be thrilled."

"So, you think I should do this."

"I think my opinion doesn't matter for much these days," Ed replied with a sly smile. He shrugged. "But, if you want it, yes I do. I can't think of anyone I'd rather see take the reins of the military and make sure it moves in a positive direction. On a more selfish note, you're family, and I care about you. I think you'd not only be good at it, but you're the kind of person who would actually find satisfaction, maybe even pleasure, in parts of the job. Not everyone can do that."

"After watching this job drive two of your friends nuts you think it would be good for me." There was an ironic disbelief in Franz' tone, but he almost smiled.

"You're the right kind of crazy for it," Ed replied, smiling back. "They also had a lot of other responsibilities to occupy there time. Roy had to deal with the messy aftermath of the homunculi problem. Breda had already led us through two wars. Both had young children while they were in office, and a whole host of other problem I don't need to go into."

Franz looked thoughtful. "Fair points."

Ed had the feeling he had butted in enough. He stood up again, stretching, and trying to pretend he hadn't heard half of his back crack. "Well, I won't tell anyone. It's your call in the end. I'm going to find a cup of coffee and see where the girls have vanished too." Winry, Elicia, and several others had disappeared after dinner. "Care to join me?"

Franz shook his head, for once his expression nearly unreadable. "No, thanks. I think I'll go back to my book."

"Whatever you like. If you ever get past the page you're on, let me know how it is."

July 16th, 1964

Alyse awoke in a pocket of smooth warmth, wrapped in fine cotton sheets and her husband's strong arms. Holding still, she could feel Cal's breathing behind her, the air stirring the hair on her neck, deep and slow and calm. For a moment, there wasn't a tense muscle in his body, and she enjoyed it. There were so few days when he was truly relaxed, the last thing she wanted to do was stir him out of peaceful sleep.

Last night had been a good one for both of them. Leaving Gloria and Charlie safe in the Argyros house with plenty of other teenagers –from both families, who were gathering en masse- to keep them distracted and entertained, she and Cal had enjoyed a wonderfully romantic date. The food and wine had been excellent, the band just as good as Alyse remembered them being when she and Cal had seen them years ago. They had joked, and danced, and walked back arm-in-arm. Cal had insisted on pausing for several minutes to kiss her in the scent-filled glory of the gardens at night. Then they had returned to the privacy of their guest room and acted like newlyweds until they both fell asleep.

If not for Cal's occasional griping, Alyse knew few would have ever taken her husband for nearly-sixty. Nor would anyone have known about the inner demons he had fought for most of his life. Lately, he had been more open with his feelings and frustrations, particularly how much he hated relying on medicines for what he considered a matter of will. Still, he seemed to finally be coming to terms with the stress, and making progress with the meditations Ethan had recommended, even if his methods were different.
Ethan had been amused, apparently, by the fact that vigorous exercise and regular sex seemed to calm Cal in ways traditional meditations did not. At least, that was what Cal had told her. Alyse had not asked her cousin to divulge anything said between him and Cal during their conversations about her husband's mental health. Whatever they did was working, and that was all that mattered. She couldn't imagine a way to thank Ethan enough for helping Cal restore mental stability in a way that was healthy, and didn't involve leaning on any of his old dependencies.

Their family had never been stronger, and Alyse was grateful. Gloria was only a year from going off to college on her own, but already her senior year was shaping up to be a good one. Charlie usually stayed out of trouble – reading comics, working on cars with Gill and his dad, hanging out with friends –though his tendency for good-natured pranks and his impulsive behavior usually got him a call from school at least once a month. Still, it was better than when it had been daily and, for now, his having a girlfriend seemed to be having a positive influence. She came over to study regularly, had a level head, and Charlie's grades had been the highest ever since they started going out.

Alyse hoped that trend lasted.

"You're awake," Cal's voice whispered in her ear. In her musings she had not heard the shift in his breathing. "Last night was wonderful." He kissed her neck, the arms around her tightening into an embrace. "You're wonderful."

Smiling, Alyse turned her head, which was about all she could move with his arms around her waist. "I'm glad you had a good time."

Cal grinned, that mischievous one that always made his eyebrows go up just a little, and made him look particularly roguish. "I'm still having a good time," he added, with a hopeful tone.

Alyse did not roll her eyes, though she did smile patiently. "You never get enough, do you?"

"Of you? Never."

The sun blushed upon the ocean from behind, but the cool breeze coming off the ocean came from in front of them. Lia's long, silky hair ruffled with the moving air.
Moving towards the railing of the balcony outside their guest room, Ethan wrapped his arms around his wife's waist from behind, and nuzzled her neck. "Any chance I can talk you into coming back to bed?"

Lia, who had been leaning against the railing, shifted, and leaned back into him instead. "And miss this amazing sunrise?"

"I can think of something just as amazing."

"You think an awful lot of yourself, Dr. Elric."

Ethan chuckled. "I meant you." While their teenage children were really very little impediment to their personal lives –Ethan had never felt particularly shy about enjoying private moments with Lia, knowing that their teenagers were likely to hear something eventually, given he had grown up as a teen listening to his own parents through the same walls— he somehow rarely managed to find enough time to be with his wife. During the school year, he had an entirely different swarm of teenagers –and their frustrating piles of essays- to contend with. Lia's work kept her away from him, even when they were both home, far more than their own three children. "I want you while I can get you."

Lia turned around and wrapped her arms lightly around his neck. "You can have me anytime."

"Except when your students steal you away." Ethan kissed her lightly. "I shouldn't have to be jealous of their mediocre scribblings."

Lia kissed him back. "What if I told you," she said softly, "That you may not have to anymore?"

Ethan blinked, looking down at his wife curiously. "What do you mean?" His mind immediately tried to imagine what might free his wife from the doldrums of grading. Was she thinking of giving up teaching? Or maybe she was just getting a student teacher. Or maybe she had found a way to ensure her students work just spontaneously combusted. At least, that had always been one of his favorite fantasies.

Lia looked excited. "Well, I didn't want to say anything until I was sure, but… there's a very good chance that this fall I won't be teaching at Central High."

"Then… what will you be doing?" Lia hadn't looked this excited since… no. There was no way.

Apparently his shock had registered on his face. Lia started laughing. "You should see yourself, Ethan. Your job has made you paranoid."

"Then will you tell me what you will be doing?" Ethan asked, feeling a little disgruntled.

"I've been offered a position at the University, in Central," she explained. "They'd like me to teach in the Education department."

"Oh." That made perfect sense. "So you'd be teaching, just future teachers."

"College students instead of high schoolers." Lia obviously liked the idea.

Ethan pretended to scowl. "Not sure I like that… all those young college men who are doomed to be smitten with their gorgeous professor."

"All those little boys young enough to be my son," Lia reminded him with a chuckle, though she looked mildly concerned at his expression. "What's the matter, Doctor, worried?"

"Maybe a little." Ethan relented, smiling. "It's a big change, but it sounds like a great opportunity. It's a done deal?"

"It's mine if I want it," Lia nodded. "It's a good job, better hours, better pay…"

"Less disciplining other people's unruly children?" Ethan added knowingly. "I think it's a great idea, love. If you don't take it, I'll have to have you committed for insanity."

"You wouldn't do that," Lia laughed.

"You're right." Ethan kissed her again. "If I did, we couldn't celebrate."

There was something wonderful about being utterly, completely anonymous. Mao had enjoyed it in Amestris, where even if people recognized him from news footage, they had the courtesy to leave him alone. Walking along the docks of Pylos in shorts and a button-down shirt, with his wife who was wearing a deep blue-and-green floral sundress in the local fashion, Mao and Jiu could have been any pair of middle-aged Xingese tourists.

No entourage. No body-guards. No press. No politics.

Just Jiu, her hand in his, smiling in the bright warm sunlight as they strolled along, her dark hair –only slightly streaked with silver- rippling like the waves. There were ocean views in Xing, if one went far enough south and east, but the beaches were not like these, with their miles and miles of soft white sand. Xingese sand was darker, and a little rougher.

::Do you remember the last time we did this?::

Mao looked at Jiu as they stepped down onto the sand itself. The open sandals popular with the locals were comfortable, crossing the sand without sinking in as much, but saving their feet from burning. ::You mean our honeymoon?::

::I do.:: It had certainly been a long time ago, but he treasured every moment with her from before that time and since. ::We snuck away from the guards, and took a walk along the beach by moonlight.::

::I recall Captain Riu was furious with us both,:: Jiu chuckled. ::He wouldn't let us go anywhere without double guards for a month.::

::Not even the baths.:: It had been a lesson hard learned, but one Mao had taken seriously afterwards. It had only been three weeks later before the next attempt on his life. Those were semi-common in the early days of his imperial reign.

::He even posted extra guards outside our sleeping chamber,:: Jiu shook her head. ::I was so embarrassed.::

::And now here we are, completely free.:: Mao smiled, giving her hand another squeeze. ::Enjoying a beautiful vacation and the wedding of our niece without any of those worries.::

::It's nice,:: Jiu agreed. ::I haven't lived normally in so long, I was afraid it would be a difficult transition, but it's been kind of a relief.::

His wife had been of good family, but not wealthy. Mao's childhood, while far from glamorous and occasionally hard for political reasons, had been more aimed towards the possibility of becoming Emperor, or at least the head of Xian one day.

::Do you miss it at all?:: Mao asked as they paused, looking out at the ocean, and the people on the beach.

::I miss our children,:: Jiu replied without hesitation, ::And our grandchildren, and our home. But I don't miss all the formalities, the rules, the being royalty. I like being able to be just us.::

Mao was glad. They had not been gone more than a couple of short months, but already he found himself missing—just a little—the ebb and flow of the Imperial court. It was best, for that reason, to stay away until Tao was firmly embedded in the minds of the Xingese people as the new Emperor in fact, instead of standing merely in his father's stead. Tao and Shan had Xing well in hand from all the reports, and Mao was determined to keep himself out of it. Eventually, they would return home, well rested, rejuvenated, and ready to accept the role of background advisors and general members of the royal family.

::You miss it though, don't you?:: Jiu asked softly as a group of children ran by with a ball, laughing.

Mao watched them head towards a net embedded in the sand. ::A little,:: he confessed. ::This is so much more enjoyable but… for most of my life now, I am –was- Xing. My whole being and focus has been the welfare of my people. I've rarely had time to think about what I want, outside of having had the honor and pleasure of being allowed to choose my own bride.:: He leaned in and kissed her cheek. The ability to be affectionate in public was also something new he found he thoroughly enjoyed. ::As long as we are together, my love, I can be happy anywhere.::

July 17, 1984

Between extended relatives from both families, it didn't look like there was much room left for anyone on the grounds of the Argyros family home. Even the "guest house" was full. Thankfully most of Thrakos' family either lived in the area, or were staying with friends and relatives who did. With that, there was just enough room to squeeze in the last of the arriving Elrics, who got off the train from Resembool just three days before the wedding.

Ian, having no obligations or duties involved in the wedding, went with the cars to meet the rest of his immediate family at the train station, and then showed them their rooms at the house when they got there. It felt good to see his parents, Reichart, Deanna and their brood, Urey and Yurian, and Callie. It was a little frightening to think about his baby sister starting college at ECU in the fall, but at least she would be there with Lily.

"You seem to have gotten to know your way around here pretty quickly," his father commented once they were all settled in and Ian had given them the basic lay of the house. He and his father were temporarily alone in the little sitting room that joined several of the guest rooms. They were looking out the big open bay windows at the gardens outside, admiring the view. From this angle, you could just see the ocean in the distance, glinting through the trees.

"Gia, Thrakos's sister, showed me around when we first got here," Ian shrugged, then he noticed his father's expression and felt a flash of irritation. Did his father still have to assume that if Ian mentioned a girl there was something going on? "Minxia asked me to let her show me around," he added. "Apparently she's a big fan." He didn't mention that they got along well, or that Gia hadn't made a classically 'fan-girl' statement or action the entire time. She liked his work, but she wasn't going to freak out like most of his fans. He just didn't want his father to make judgments based on comments that happen to put his name and a girl in the same sentence.

"I see." Aldon relaxed a little. "I noticed you didn't bring a date."

Ian bit his tongue. "Not for lack of trying," he replied, more harshly than he had intended. "If you must know, the girl I wanted to bring with me couldn't make it. She had to work."

"Would that be the designer Coran's mentioned?" his father asked with honest curiosity. "Bonnie, I think he said her name is."

Coran had been talking about Bonnie with his father? Well, perhaps it was for the best if it meant his father stopped worrying about Ian's not-so-private life. "Yes, I invited Bonnie, but she had another job to work on, as well as finishing up some details on the collection for Grandpa's company, so she couldn't make it."

"Would she have come otherwise?"

A fair question, as much as Ian's reactive response was to snap. He nodded. "I… well I think so. I'd like to think so." Ian leaned against the window frame, watching the scene outside the window, if only to keep from making eye-contact with his father. Even in his late twenties, it was awkward talking about his personal life. It hadn't been before he became an actor; before the publicity, and the magazines following his every move, his every date. "I really wanted her to come, and she was sincerely sorry."

"But."

"Does there have to be a but?" Ian quipped.

"I can hear a silent 'but,'" his father retorted.

"Fine." Ian shook his head slightly. "But we're just friends, as far as she's concerned, and given how she feels about professional performers, I'm lucky we're even that." His comment did not elicit an immediate response. Finally, Ian turned his head to look at his father, who was giving him a considering expression. "What?"

"You had to pick a smart one, didn't you?"

"Are you saying only a stupid woman would date me?" Ian asked, scowling.

His father laughed. "No. I'm just saying she clearly has a good head on her shoulders." The chuckle subsided. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh." After a moment, he sighed. "Speaking of boys with relationship issues—"

"How's Urey?" Ian asked. He hadn't had the chance to talk to his brother yet except in passing to say hello, but what he had seen hadn't lifted his spirits. The years since his wife's death had not been kind to his brother. Not that Urey seemed to be trying very hard to crawl out of the rut he had fallen into.

His father blinked. "Actually, I was going to ask about Ted, but we can start there." He sighed. "As well as you might expect. He's still got his job at the dairy. He comes around a little more often, but he might as well be another uncle as far as Yurian gets to interact with him." His earlier levity had fled, and it struck Ian that his father looked older than he remembered.

Ian winced. "What does Yurian think of that?"

Aldon shrugged. "He doesn't know any different, does he? He's such a happy little boy, so precocious, and caring, and smart. He's always happy to see Urey, but it's been mostly your Mom and I raising him, and Art and Deanna, given how much time he spends with his cousins. I had hoped… he'd have started to live his life again by now."

"He is living, Dad," Ian replied, defending his brother. "Maybe not well. Maybe not the way you or I would want, but he's better than he was. We can't assume he's ever going to get over Cayla. Crazy as that was, I've never seen him so in love with anyone or anything. It was crazy, deep, die-for-you love like you only get in a book or a movie. I… I can't say I'd have done any better in his position."

"Me neither," his father admitted after a moment. "If something ever happened to your mother, I'd be crushed."

Ian had never said anything crass or inappropriate about his parents' relationship. Growing up, he had always seen how much they loved each other, what a great team they made. They were his parents. He had been well into his teens before he had learned the full details of his parents' romance, particularly the events around Coran's conception and their marriage. Those stories he had gotten from Aunt Sara, not his father. Not that it had ever made him think less of his father, but it had certainly explained a few things. "If something ever happened to Mom, we'd all be devastated," he pointed out. "There's no woman like her."

"Not even your designer?" Aldon asked him.

Ian exhaled deeply. "I'm afraid to let myself feel that much. If she'd have me… I, I think she'd be the one, but I can't make her feel something she doesn't."

His father's hand came to rest on his shoulder. "Only you can decide if she's worth it, Ian, but you're right. You can't force it." Aldon shook his head a little. "How is Ted? The train didn't stop long in Central on the way here, so I couldn't stop to check on him."

As if he didn't have enough brother to worry about with Urey, who probably weighed half-again what Ted did anyway. "I tried to talk him into coming, but he just insisted he needed to spend time getting to know the new team he'd been assigned to, and that he didn't rate the time off. I know the last is just an excuse, because Uncle Franz said that Ted could have gotten the time off without any trouble at all. He just never put in for it."

Aldon shook his head, concern for his youngest son evident. Once again, Ian felt bad for causing his father more stress. He had a lot to take care of, and that was just within the family. He had been successfully re-elected as Mayor of Resembool again. He must have left a lot of work to be gone for multiple weeks to come all the way out to Minxia's wedding. "Franz told me the boy was put in for a commendation, despite his haring off into the city without orders. He's proving to be almost as much trouble for them as my father. Now if he could just see it."

"The problem's not work, Dad," Ian cut into his father's thoughts. "It's the girl, Clarina. The Alabaster Alchemist."

"The one who got her arm blown off."

"Yeah, that's her. Ted… well, the situation's complicated. He still blames himself for what happened. As far as I can tell, she might too. Problem is, he's still got a thing for her, and she told him she doesn't want to talk, at all."

Aldon winced. "He kept avoiding the subject on the phone. I'm glad he talks to you."

"Because I'm a fabulous role-model?" Ian teased.

"At least he's talking to someone who listens," Aldon finished. "Ian, I'd like to apologize. I've given you a tough time over the past few years… and despite everything, none of my worst fears have come true. I don't like how the press exaggerates the truth, but that's not your fault. You didn't quit. You're making a good living, working hard, and you don't spend it foolishly. I'm proud of you."

Ian was floored. "Thanks, Dad," he replied, fighting back a misty-eyed urge. They hadn't had a chance for a real heart-to-heart conversation since Ian's accident, several years before. "That means a lot to me."