July 12th, 1957

Two days after the Elrics' arrival Cassie's contractions finally picked up the pace. Or more accurately, a day and a night later, she awoke in the very early morning as her water broke!

"Hey, Mom," Aldon poked his head through the guest/art room door.

Winry heard him and woke, rolling over away from Ed – who was still out cold – and looked at her son in the pre-dawn light. "Is it Cassie?" she asked, sure that nothing else would be enough to bring Aldon knocking on her door.

Aldon nodded affirmatively. "Her water broke. We didn't want to call and wake Doctor Evans just yet but… do you think you could…."

"Check things out?" Winry chuckled softly. "I'll be right there." So much for sleeping in! Not that she had yesterday. They hadn't even been there two full days and she had already managed to get the house cleaned back up to its usual standards and cook the meals while Ed spent most of his time spelling Aldon and Cassie from child duties.

"Thanks." Aldon vanished again immediately.

Winry got up, doing her best not to disturb Ed, and slipped on her robe and a pair of slippers. Then she padded out and down the hall to Aldon and Cassie's room. When she entered, Cassie was sitting on the edge of the bed with an intent expression, a few drops of sweat on her brow. Yes, this was definitely what they had been waiting for. "It seems we have an early riser," she chuckled as she came into the room.

"Early and impatient," Cassie nodded, smiling weakly despite obvious discomfort. "Though after as long as it has been, I'm almost grateful for that."

Winry helped her daughter-in-law lie back briefly so she could get an idea of how fast things were progressing. As it turned out, not as quickly as her discomfort might imply, though Winry had been expecting that. "Plenty of time," she said. "I don't think there's a need to call the doctor just yet. Everything looks fine." The contractions were still several minutes apart.

"Good," Cassie nodded. "Then I think I'm going to walk for a bit. It hurts to lie down." Aldon helped her back up onto her feet, where she leaned against him briefly.

"Is there anything I can do?" Aldon asked, manfully doing his best not to look anxious, even though Winry and Cassie both knew how squeamish labor and delivery made him.

"You could go downstairs and get breakfast going for everyone," Winry suggested. "And when it's late enough go ahead and at least call Doctor Evans and let her know what's going on." Linda Evans did most of the midwifery around Resembool now. "We've got things under control here."

"All right," Aldon nodded, clearly grateful to have a way to be helpful without getting in the way.

"Thank you, Don," Cassie kissed his cheek as he transferred her over to Winry. "He's cute when he's worried," she chuckled when her husband was gone.

Winry smiled. "He is, isn't he? Though you would think," she joked at her son's expense, "that after three children already he would have gotten used to this part."

Cassie laughed as she started to pace the room again. "I don't think he ever will," she replied. "It's the part where he feels guiltiest for making me do all the work." She said it fondly though.

"Well then I'm sure we can find ways to keep him busy so he feels like he's earning his keep," Winry replied. "He'll have his hands full wrangling the other three."

Cassie nodded. "After this, I'm taking a vacation."

"Just what sort would that be?" Winry asked knowingly.

Cassie smirked. "From pregnancy!"

When Edward came downstairs a couple of hours later, all of the boys – Tore included – were already awake, stuffed full of hot oatmeal, and had been sent outdoors to entertain themselves and keep the house quiet. "Looks like everything is already well in hand," he chuckled at Aldon, who was doing the breakfast dishes. "How's Cassie doing?"

"Last time I saw Mom things were still moving along," Aldon shrugged, aware how unhelpful that answer really was. "I've… been staying out of the way."

Ed smirked at his son, who looked abashed. "Easier to deal with the guilt?"

Aldon sighed. "I'm not sure which is worse, the guilt or the nausea, but at least I'm more helpful if I'm just feeling the guilt."

Ed let it drop then. He and Aldon had had plenty of talks over the past few months that could be simplified down to 'you know Cassie would probably really appreciate a break from being pregnant. They know what causes that now.' And, admittedly, the spacing of the first three wasn't bad at all. It was more the fact that it was the first three that Ed ragged his son about. "We all feel that," Ed admitted. "I take it Tore and Coran are riding herd on the others?"

Aldon nodded. "Art was feeling better, so I let him go outside for a little bit. Tore and Coran are both supposed to make him come in if he starts getting tired."

"Good," Ed walked over to the stove and spooned himself up a heaping bowl of oatmeal, then proceeded to add sugar, milk, and blackberries. He at least could be patient. He would start worrying at the point where there was something to worry about. "That leaves you with plenty of nothing to do, right?"

"Pretty much," Aldon sighed, putting up the dishtowel and leaning against the counter. "Mom has everything in hand. I'm not much use."

"You're here," Ed pointed out as he turned to face his son. "Cassie knows that, and I'm sure she appreciates it."

"I know," Aldon shrugged. "I just feel like a wimp, going queasy over something like this."

Ed knew his son normally had a stronger constitution. It was just something about childbirth and the fluids involved that seemed to freak him out. "We all have something," he assured him. "A lot of guys can't handle watching children born. We just have to admit that women are tougher than we are sometimes and move on."

At that, Aldon finally chuckled and some of the tension broke. "I admitted that a long time ago."

"So did I," Ed admitted. "So don't worry, I'm sure Winry and Cassie have things well in hand."

In the mid-afternoon Winry finally sent Aldon for Doctor Evans, who showed up and vanished upstairs. Edward helped Aldon keep the kids entertained, meals made for anyone who was eating, hot water boiled, and all the usual things that had to be done even with a baby being born upstairs.

It was just before dinner when there were footsteps on the stairs again, and Winry came down, smiling, though she looked tired. Aldon looked up from peeling apples so fast he almost cut his thumb in the process. "Well? Is it over? How's Cassie? What is it?" he started babbling questions a moment later.

"Let her answer before you ask more questions," Ed laughed, turning to Winry, who just looked amused. "So?"

"Everything's over," Winry nodded, answering the questions in order. "Cassie did just fine as usual. We've gotten everything cleaned up and she's resting now if you'd like to come upstairs."

"Can we come too?" Coran blurted, looking up eagerly from a puzzle he, Tore, and Reichart were working on while Urey played on the floor with a stack of blocks.

"Soon," Winry promised with a smile. "But not all at once. Your mother's very tired, and this is all new for the baby."

"What is it, Winry?" Ed pressed, realizing she had purposefully dodged the question!

Winry smirked. "Come upstairs and see for yourself."

"Mysteries," Ed snorted. "Come on," he shoved Aldon towards the stairs. "Your lady is waiting." He followed his son up to his room and inside.

Cassie was in bed, resting against a stack of pillows with a small bundle in a soft green baby blanket tucked against her side. Her dark hair was back in a braid. Doctor Evans was putting the last of her things in her bag, smiling and relaxed. Winry poured a glass of water as they reached the door.

Aldon paused in the doorway – causing Ed to almost run into his back. "Hi," he smiled tentatively.

Cassie smiled back. "Hi yourself," she chuckled. "Come meet Ian."

Ed chuckled; another boy then! "Four for four."

Aldon crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked, gently caressing her cheek with one hand.

"Just the usual," Cassie replied playfully, clearly in good humor despite her exhaustion. "Better now that this not-so-little guy is out."

"Bigger than the others?" Aldon asked as he reached out and picked up the bundled infant.

"By a solid pound," Winry chuckled. The other three boys had been around six-and-a-half to seven pounds; with Urey the heaviest, if Ed remembered correctly. That pegged Ian here at eight.

"I can tell," Aldon chuckled as he looked down at the babe. Ed moved to his son's shoulder to get a good look.

"Good looking kid though," Ed commented. Not that any of his grandkids weren't! The baby blinked up at them in the setting sunlight with muddy-blue eyes and the lightest tufts of dark blond hair. "I like the name."

"Short, sweet, and easy to yell," Aldon replied, his eyes locked on his newest son.

"Or coo," Winry chuckled. "He's darling."

"It's time I get out of the way," Doctor Evans smiled softly and headed for the door. "Shall I send the boys up?"

"Please," Cassie nodded. "I'm sure they'll be excited to meet their brother."

"And then we can let you get some rest," Aldon smiled lovingly.

When the doctor was gone, Cassie looked up with bemusement at her husband. "Four boys, Don."

"We're in for it aren't we?" Aldon chuckled. "I really thought we might have at least one girl."

"May I suggest you stop trying?" Ed couldn't help a gentle chide.

"At least for a while," Cassie said with a giggle. "It might be a unique experience to go for a while without having diapers to change."

The door creaked open again and Ed turned to see Coran's face. "Can we see?"

Aldon waved them in. "Sure, come on in and meet your brother, Ian."

"Another brother!" Reichart pushed past Coran and ran to the bedside eagerly.

Tore came in leading Urey. The group of boys gathered around with a mix of excitement, awe, and curiosity.

"Baby!" Urey giggled.

"That's right," Winry picked him up so he could see without getting in the way. "He'll be sharing your room."

"Better his than ours," Coran chuckled. "Come on, Art. Let's go finish that puzzle." The two boys hugged their dad, their mom, and headed back out.

"You okay kid?" Ed asked, noticing an odd expression on Tore's face as he looked at the newborn boy.

"Huh? Oh yeah," Tore looked up and smiled weakly. "It just makes me miss my Mom."

That Ed understood. He smiled back. "Yeah, me too."

"You want to hold him?" Aldon looked askance at the boy.

"Me?" Tore's eyes went even rounder. "What if I drop him?"

"You won't. You never drop anything," Winry pointed out with a gentle smile. "You can sit in the chair if that will make you more comfortable."

"All right," Tore nodded after a moment. Ed watched as he sat and Winry gently transferred Ian from Aldon's arms and into Tore's. For a very long minute the twelve-year-old just sat there, barely breathing, looking at the baby. "Okay," He said finally. "I think that's enough."

Ed chuckled and took Ian himself. He wanted a chance to hold the boy too! "Nicely done."

"Thanks." Tore stood up. "I think I'm going to go work on the puzzle with the guys. Umm… congratulations," he smiled uneasily before vacating.

Aldon's attention turned back to his wife. "Is there anything you need? Food? A massage?"

"A nap," Cassie smiled. "Food sounds good though."

"I'll make up a tray for both of you," Winry said, coming around the bed. "Come on, Edward."

"Hey, I just got him," Ed jokingly argued as he gave Ian back to his mother. "It's like musical infant."

"Better than playing hot potato with him," Winry teased.

"You're right about that," Ed agreed as they left Aldon and Cassie alone for some relative peace and quiet! He suspected they weren't going to have a lot of it for quite some time.

July 15, 1957

Elena Mustang hummed softly to herself as she put the tea kettle on and finished wiping down the counters after making lunch. Roy and Théa were fed and down for their afternoon naps, and now she had a little time to herself. Lately, this was the time of day she enjoyed most, though that made her feel a little guilty. Maes was at work, the kids were quiet, and she could read, or nap, or listen to the radio. Time alone was something she treasured as much as she did her time with her family lately.

Perhaps it was the silly niggling in her mind that she tried to ignore; the little voice that constantly fretted about things; most specifically her pregnancy and Maes' over-attentive behavior. The doctor assured her that everything was fine and her baby was healthy, but after the accident back in the winter that had lost her the last one Elena couldn't help being more cautious. She knew, too, that it was the same reasons behind Maes' protectiveness; his misplaced guilt in feeling he should have been with her to catch her. She had let him alone, hoping that it would eventually work out of his system but so far that did not seem to be happening.

Elena looked out the window into the yard, mulling her thoughts over even as she remembered being here with her younger brother, her family… they still came to her mind in quiet moments. She missed them, and was ever more grateful for her husband and children.

For a moment, she thought it was the tea kettle that shook her out of her reverie, but a moment later she heard the doorbell again. Curious, Elena went to the door and opened. "Good afternoon," she said, though she did not recognize the person on the front step. "May I help you?"

The woman who stood on the stairs was taller than Elena with dark, thick curly hair, light skin, and she was wearing a purple dress suit – the type with pants. Most notably, she was also very pregnant. "Hello. I'm a friend of Maes'. He left something at my place and I wanted to return it."

"At your place?" Elena was confused. Maes had been nowhere but work or with her for months. She knew from his schedule that he came rushing straight home after he finished at Headquarters.

"It was a while ago," the woman looked slightly embarrassed. "I found it recently and then forgot and then there wasn't a good time. I thought it would be better to just bring it here." She reached into her pocket and held something out in her hand that glinted silver in the light.

Elena's eyes widened. Maes' pocket watch?! "Are you certain it's his?" She asked. Surely if Maes had misplaced something so important to him he would have said something. It wasn't as if it was just any item.

"Positive," the woman nodded. "I don't have too many friends who are State Alchemists." She wobbled a little then, one hand going to her belly. "Do you mind if I sit down for a minute? I'm sorry to ask but I walked over, I don't have a car and it's a bit of a trip."

"No, please come in…." Elena waited, letting the space for a name hang. She didn't entirely trust the situation, but she wasn't going to over-tax another woman in the same condition.

"Vanessa," she smiled as she stepped inside. "Vanessa Yates."

"I see," Elena replied as she took the watch and closed the door behind the woman. "So is Maes a friend of your husband's?"

Vanessa paused, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm not married," she replied softly.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Elena did not comment further. "Tea?" she offered, feeling awkward but not sure what else to do at the moment.

"Please," Vanessa smiled, easing down into a chair at the breakfast table. "I'm glad to have a chance to talk with you actually. I've heard so much about you, but we've never had a chance to talk."

"I'm afraid I haven't heard much of you," Elena admitted. Actually she had heard nothing save for some references she vaguely remembered to a girl named Vanessa years back when Maes was going through his rough period. It seemed she was now going to get to hear a lot more than she might have ever wished to.

Maes was in a fairly good mood as he walked up the steps to his home. It had been a good day at Headquarters. He had finished two assignments and gotten the reports in. There had been a good full-out alchemical combat session today that had gone well. All in all, just a good day!

He opened the door, grinning as he spun to close it. "I'm home, beautiful!" he called out. Turning, he was half way into the kitchen before he realized Elena wasn't alone. He felt his heart and stomach drop to somewhere around his knees when he realized who it was. "Va-Vanessa? What are you doing here?"

It was then he realized that Elena was frowning, and looked like she might have cried recently or be about to.

Vanessa stood up and Maes almost died on the spot. She was pregnant? Oh shit… oh…. She offered him a slightly embarrassed smile. "You left a couple of…things… at my place." One hand rested on her belly.

"She came to return your watch," Elena replied tight-lipped.

That was where he had left it?! "Thanks," he replied lamely. He didn't dare open his mouth to say anything else. The implication was too plain – the child was his. Or Vanessa was sure of it. Either way… he was screwed.

Vanessa's expression changed to something less readable. "That's all you have to say after you left my apartment without even a goodbye?"

"What have you been telling my wife?" Maes blurted. Crud…that didn't sound right either.

Elena's eyes were dark, hurt. "She claims her child is yours, Maes. Is it true?"

"I…I don't know," Maes stammered. "Damn it! I don't know. I didn't…. "

"You didn't?" Vanessa asked with a slight smirk.

"I swear I don't remember!" Maes crossed the room, closing in with Elena and trying to take her hands. To show her he meant it! She pulled away and glowered. "I don't remember anything about that night. You were hurt, I was worried…"

"You were plastered," Vanessa commented unhelpfully.

"Yeah, I was," Maes admitted. "Elena please! You've got to believe me!"

That didn't seem to be the right thing to say either. "Oh I believe you, Maes," Elena replied hard, her voice rising. "That you don't remember sleeping with another woman while I was lying in a hospital bed crying over losing your child!"

"If you'll excuse me," Vanessa backed towards the door. "I'll just let myself out."

"Hold it, Nessa," Maes spun around. This was happening too fast! "Why the hell am I supposed to believe you're so sure it was me?"

"Are you going to deny you were in my apartment?" Vanessa didn't look even remotely flustered. "That you vacated while I was taking a shower? That you left your watch on the floor?"

"Well no but—"

"I, at least, keep track of all my sexual partners, Mustang," Vanessa snorted.

The curses that emitted in Maes' head were not those that would ever have been acceptable in any company. "Go home," he finally whispered. "We'll talk later."

"Count on it." Vanessa turned and left. A moment later Maes heard the door close.

Tense, Maes turned to face his wife again. "Elena, I swear I didn't mean to hurt you. I went out walking and I ended up in a bar. I don't remember a thing until I woke up…"

"In that woman's bed." The tears began to fall from Elena's eyes; Maes couldn't stand it. He tried to cross to her again, but Elena took a step back. "Whether you did it on purpose or not, Maes, she claims her child is yours and you can't offer any evidence to the contrary." This time she did not yell. Rather her voice was very quiet. "What do you intend to do about it?"

"I… don't know that either." Bitter frustration filled him. This wasn't fair! Not that life ever was. He put his hands to his head which was starting to ache terribly. "I need to think, I never… I didn't…I…."

"I'm going upstairs," Elena said shortly, still crying. "I was a little too busy to make dinner. Roy and Théa are playing in the baby's room." She turned and headed for the stairs.

"Wait!" Maes cried, but for the first time since Aerugo, his wife ignored his request. "Oh Elena…" Maes dropped into the chair Vanessa had recently vacated. "I'm sorry…. I'm so sorry."

July 16th, 1957

Maes looked like a zombie as he went through the morning routine – wooden and blank faced. Sara noticed it. Torv and Ragnar noticed it. Even Kane noticed it. Sara had seen her friend in a million different moods and variations on them over the years; this one was new and it worried her. Trying not to over-react without knowing what was up, Sara caught up with Maes in the break room when it was empty. Maes was attempting to make coffee, and completely botching the job. "Here I've got it," Sara stepped in.

"Thanks," Maes sighed and stepped away. That was all he said.

Sara got the machine set up right then turned around to face her friend, meeting his eyes with an even, concerned gaze. "What's wrong, Mustang? You look like the walking dead this morning."

Maes went almost dead white, but he shrugged. "I… it's nothing."

"Bullshit," Sara snorted. "Talk to me, Maes. You look terrible."

She was utterly unprepared for the stammered story that began to utter from Maes' lips. From his getting drunk the night Elena lost the baby, to waking up in Vanessa's apartment and fleeing. Sara couldn't help but groan at that! Then Maes got to yesterday… "Elena wouldn't even talk to me this morning," he finished miserably. "She said she needed some time to think. Damn it, Sara. I love her! I would never have done anything to hurt her… not on purpose. Now this is all happening and I don't even remember cheating!"

It all gave Sara a headache too. "Talk about screwed up," she sighed, rubbing her head. "I wish you hadn't told me."

Maes snorted, looking insulted. "Oh gee, thanks for being a friend."

"No," Sara sighed, guilt settling in as she replied softly. "I mean you shouldn't have told me. I'm your superior officer."

Realization lit in Maes' eyes. "Shit. Sara you're not going to report this?!"

"What am I supposed to do, Maes?" Sara asked. She felt like crying herself. "Infidelity is a court-martial offense. You know that. Even if you don't remember doing it, Vanessa's claiming her brat is yours. So either you did it, or someone's lying through her teeth. Either way, even on suspicion it's supposed to be reported." Sara didn't like it. Of course, she didn't like Vanessa, so that was part of it.

Maes looked like he wanted to die. "Sara… do it," he said softly, finally. "You're right. Either way I've done it again; I've screwed everything up." He pulled his watch out of his pocket and held it out. "I'm not fit to wear this uniform."

Sara took the watch only as he let go of it and it started to fall to the ground. "Maes, please. If you give up now than you don't stand a chance."

"If I lose my wife over this, than life isn't worth anything," Maes countered as he turned and headed for the door. "If anyone needs to find me, call home or my folks' place. I'll be easy to locate." And he vanished out the door.

Sara looked down at the watch in her hand. She didn't want to believe her friend had cheated on his wife. Desperately she wished she had never had this conversation. But she knew him too well; she knew how badly drinking hampered his common sense, and if he was so drunk he didn't remember that night at all he could have done just about anything. Maes knew it too.

Sara waited until nearly the end of the day before going into Kane's office. "Brigadier General, Sir," she saluted formally, trying hard not to cry herself. "We need to talk."

July 17th, 1957

As was procedure, Maes was temporarily suspended from duties barring investigation into his alleged infidelity. It was what he had suspected, and two days after Vanessa's disastrous visit, Maes could hardly make himself care. Elena spoke to him; they didn't fight, but it was still awkward. Maes banished himself to the downstairs sofa. He was too ashamed that the situation had even come to pass.

He was summoned to headquarters, where he had a very unpleasant conversation with the Sky Fire Alchemist. What was worse was that Kane didn't yell – a first – and he didn't give Maes anything more than an explanation of what the investigation would entail leading up to the actual court-martial hearings. Then Maes was sent to another office where he had to give a statement, a full testimony of everything that had happened as best he remembered it. They asked him repeatedly; until he was sure they were making him repeat things ad nauseum on purpose. Of course they were, they wanted to make sure his story was consistent. Irritated as he was, Maes cooperated.

Then he went home again. Vanessa had – wisely on her part probably – not called or shown up anywhere though Maes knew the military would be talking to her as well. They would get straight answers where Maes couldn't.

Maes was ready for a night of depressed lethargy on the couch; he was not prepared to find his mother and father sitting with Elena in his living room when he got home! "Hi Mom…Dad."

"Maes," his father replied flatly.

Riza stood as he came around the edge of the couch. "How was it?"

So they knew. They knew all about what had gone on today and why. No wonder his father was glowering. "It was," Maes shrugged. What else could he say? "I've never had to discuss something in so much detail in my life, especially not when I don't remember the important parts."

"Why is that?" his father asked sharply.

"Roy, please," Riza sighed. "I'm sure you had a hard day, Maes. We thought maybe you would like to come over to our place for dinner, or we could take the children for you if you wanted some time to yourselves."

Maes looked at Elena. "What do you want to do?" he asked.

"I thought a night without the children might be… productive," Elena answered after a moment.

"All right then," Maes nodded agreement. Trying not to lose it in front of the kids was hard. They spent so much time as a family in the evenings, and neither of them wanted to worry little Roy or Théa. Not when they had no idea what to expect in the end.

His mother looked mildly relieved. "All right then." She turned to Elena. "Let's get them packed for the night shall we?"

Elena nodded and followed Riza out of the room…

…leaving Maes alone with his father. From the look on Roy's face, Maes had the feeling he should be worried.

Roy stood so they were face to face, clearly tense and almost unsure, it seemed, of how to begin "Maes… please tell me this isn't happening; that it's some kind of sick joke."

Maes didn't have to ask to hear the subtext. Please tell me this isn't happening in our family. He shook his head. "Don't you think I wish I could? I've been wracking my brain for months and I still can't tell you how I even left that stupid bar in the first place." Not that being that drunk in public was any better as an officer, but at least it wasn't as bad as a husband.

"And you never told anyone?" Roy snorted.

"Would you?" Maes snapped. His temper had been fraying for days. He couldn't yell at the folks at Headquarters. He wouldn't yell in front of his kids or his wife, but he didn't have to hold it in with his father.

"Well, no," Roy admitted with an irritated twitch. "Damn it, Maes, how could you be so irresponsible?"

"It was surprisingly easy," Maes replied bitterly. "I'm the weak-willed idiot remember?"

That was clearly not what his father wanted to hear. "Are you just going to roll over and take this?"

"If you can think of any evidence that we can present as even a tenuous bit of proof that I didn't sleep with the woman whose bed I woke up in mostly naked I would really like to hear it."

For a moment Maes thought his father was going to explode. His face went red, his temples bulged, and his one eye went flint-hard. His hands shook. Then, in a moment, the tension drained from him and he turned his face away. "There are other ways to live than the military," he said finally, haltingly. "If it comes to that. Save your marriage, Maes. That's what matters." He turned and headed for the door. "Tell your mother I'm waiting outside."

Maes could not remember the last time his father had reined in his temper that sharply. Stunned, he just nodded. "Yes sir."

A few minutes later Riza came down carrying Théa and with little Roy toddling in tow. She had a bag that Maes was sure contained everything they would need for a day – or possibly more – with the kids. "Take care," she kissed Maes' cheek. "Did you have a talk with your father? I didn't hear anything breaking." She smirked humorlessly.

Maes smiled back weakly. "We talked. Do you have anything you want to say to me, Mom?"

Riza thought about it before replying. "You're my son and I love you. Whatever happens that won't change. Not that it may change anything, but I know you would never have acted maliciously and I'm still not convinced you're guilty of any wrongdoing."

Maes could cry. He hugged his mother. "Thanks, Mom. I love you too. Where's Elena?"

"Still upstairs. She decided to take a bath," Riza paused again. "You two need to have a good, long calm talk."

Maes agreed with that one hundred percent. "Hopefully that will happen tonight."

After his mother left, Maes took the time to whip up something quick for dinner. He wasn't sure what Elena would want, but he suspected she wasn't in a picky mood. He didn't want to invade her privacy in the bath. As much as he had enjoyed that in the past, he suspected he would not be as welcome as he would have liked.

So he waited until he heard her footsteps moving towards the bedroom, then put the sandwiches and glasses of milk on a tray and headed upstairs to their room. "Elena," he announced himself as he opened the door. "I made dinner."

Elena was standing next to the bed, still in the middle of dressing for sleep. She paused, pajamas in hand, and just looked at him for a moment. Maes simply waited for her to respond, much as his instinctive response would have been to go to her; to run his hands lovingly over the small swell of her belly, her full breasts… to cuddle up with her and forget the rest of the world outside. "You may come in."

Maes blinked and entered, setting the tray on the small table along one wall as Elena pulled the nightgown on over her head and it fell like water down and over, hiding her body from him. Maes wished he knew how to begin. He wanted to talk; to mend this. He just didn't know how. They ate in silence until finally he just couldn't take it anymore. "Elena… do you still love me?"

Elena sighed, a pained look in her eyes. "Of course I do," she replied immediately. "I just… I feel so many things that contradict themselves right now… and I'm not sure how to deal with them."

"Tell me," Maes asked softly. He wanted to know, to help, to work this through together. They were good at that; or had been until a couple of days ago.

Elena set her milk glass down on the bedside table. "I love you, but part of me doesn't know how to trust you even though I want to. I want to believe that you didn't do this thing; that Vanessa is lying and her baby is someone else's. I should trust my husband but I shouldn't trust a man who lies."

"But…" Maes pressed when she paused. He could see that hesitation in her eyes. Might as well get it all out in the open.

"You never told me about waking up in her apartment," Elena pointed out softly. "You didn't mention that your watch was missing and I know how important that is. They may be the only times ever that you haven't told me something, but now… now I wonder, and I hate it!" Tears leaked from her eyes again as she sat there, legs curled under her on the bed.

Maes reached out from habit, wiping the tears away with one hand, and leaving it there when she didn't pull away. "I promise, Elena, that I've never once lied to you by intent or omission on anything else. I'd rather be struck dead than have ever hurt you. I had hoped that nothing would come of it. That I could put it in the past and forget about it… like a bad dream."

Elena sniffed, her hand coming up to his. "It is now…it's a nightmare."

"I'm so sorry, my love." Maes had apologized so many times and it still didn't feel like enough. "I wish there was a way to make this go away, to stop the hurt… to make it up to you. All I know is that I can live without being a State Alchemist. I could live without alchemy. I could live with being cast out and publicly humiliated; but I can't live without you, without our family." There he lost his tongue, his throat constricting.

Elena's hand clenched around his; her dark eyes pleading. It was a very long silence before she spoke hesitantly. "I believed you when you promised me you would not leave me in Aerugo, and when you said you loved me. Up to now, every promise you have made you have kept. I want to believe you now… if I don't, than we have more problems than a one-night stand and an illegitimate child. So while I don't know one way or the other, I know you didn't do anything on purpose." She kissed his hand. "I'm not leaving, Maes. I love you and I would not do that to our children."

Maes felt something deep inside him unclench. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. ::My angel,:: he slipped into Aerugean. ::My beautiful. Your forgiveness is sweeter than wine.::

::I did not say forgive,:: Elena startled him. ::I will in time, but it will take time for me to trust again, beloved.::

Maes sighed. ::I understand. I will do my best to be worthy of it.:: Elena nodded, breaking away then to shift uncomfortably. Maes helped her lay back against the pillows. "Do you want anything else?" he asked.

Elena shook her head. "Just stay with me, Maes. Don't sleep downstairs."

Maes lay down next to her, and she rested her head against his chest just under the shoulder. He put his arm gently around his wife. "I'm here. Thank you."

Elena closed her eyes, clearly exhausted, and Maes felt guilty, wondering if she had slept as badly as he had the last couple of nights. He hadn't meant to hurt her with that either. "We do this together or not at all. I don't like the second option," Elena commented drowsily.

Maes kissed the top of her head and settled in for an early night. "On that we agree." The next few days, maybe weeks, were going to be murder on them both, but Maes knew that together was the only way they would weather this mess. Elena was not leaving him now, but that did not mean he had not hurt their relationship. As his wife drifted off to sleep, Maes silently vowed to find a way to put it all to rights or die trying.