July 21st, 1957

"I can't believe it," Edward shook his head as he looked at Winry as they sat around the dining table.

Winry nodded, looking a little shell-shocked. "I know, but that's what Riza told me. It's been four days since the investigation started. Maes remembers nothing and this girl insists the kid is his."

"That's crazy," Aldon sighed as he folded clean baby clothes. "I mean, yeah Maes has messed up before, but they're nuts about each other. I don't think he'd do it even if he was drunk off his ass."

"Aldon," Cassie shushed him as she sat in a chair, feeding Ian. "Watch your language."

"Sorry," Aldon looked across the living room, but Tore seemed to have both of the older boys wrapped up in a story. Urey had fallen asleep on the couch. "It just stinks."

"To put it mildly," Ed sighed, picking up a stack of kids clothes and helping Aldon fold. "There's a good chance that Maes is going to be ousted for that even if there's reasonable doubt. It looks bad to leave him in and set precedence."

"That doesn't seem fair," Cassie frowned.

"It's not," Ed shrugged. "It's not about fair, Cassie; it's about keeping order and trust in the military. It has to police its own people or people won't respect the officers."

Winry went back to working on dinner, sighing as she started marinating the roast. "Riza said Maes and Elena are holding up fairly well," she kept talking. "This Vanessa has been lying fairly low since making her announcement though. Other than giving a statement when asked she's been rather unavailable."

"Sound suspicious to me," Cassie shook her head. "I bet the hussy has no idea who fathered her child."

"Cassie," Aldon looked surprised at the bitter sound of his wife's voice.

She sighed. "Sorry. I just don't particularly like girls like that."

Aldon gave his wife a gently playful smile. "The pretty unmarried ones who sleep with guys and end up pregnant?"

Cassie stuck her tongue out at Aldon. "The ones who play with other people's lives," she countered. "Don't push your luck, Elric, or you'll be changing every diaper for the next three years."

Ed shook his head, though he smiled at the banter. "Now, now, that's enough flirting," he chuckled. "I think you've given us more than enough grandsons."

Aldon blushed; Cassie laughed. "You have a strange definition of flirting, Dad," Aldon commented glibly.

"You should see him in private," Winry chuckled.

"No thanks," Aldon shook his head.

Ed was glad to let the subject drop for now. He wasn't foolish enough to dismiss the possibility that Maes really had slipped up while he was drunk. He wouldn't be the first person to do something idiotic in that condition. But only an idiot would believe Maes had ever done it consciously. Ed was glad it sounded like Elena understood that too. Those two relied on each other so much for support that he did not want to see how badly they would fall apart if they ever lost that lifeline.

He remembered the pain. No one should ever have to go through that.

July 22nd, 1957

Sara was surprised when she arrived at work first thing in the morning to find the Whitewater Alchemist sitting at his desk, hard at work. Normally Sara was the first person in, if not the second, but rarely was Cal ever in early. "Getting a little head start today, Whitewater?" she commented glibly as she crossed the room to her desk. "Or do you have a date tonight you want to get off early for?"

Cal was still looking intently at whatever was in front of him. "Just getting a little side project done," he replied vaguely.

That piqued Sara's interest. She paused as she came even with Cal's desk. "What's it about?" Given it was her office, she was used to knowing everything that crossed the desks, and she had a right to it. The paperwork was mildly confusing; what looked like a list of apartment complexes, and another sheaf that looked like it might be hospital records. What caught her eye thought was Maes' name appearing several times in Cal's handwritten notes. "Is this about Maes' court-martial?" What would Cal be doing with that?

Cal sighed and nodded. "It is, miss nosy… ma'am. If you must know, something about this woman's story just doesn't sit right with me. Mustang's an idiot sometimes but this stinks."

"I don't like it either," Sara sighed. She still felt bad about doing her duty and turning Maes in, even though he had told her to go ahead and do it. He and Elena were her friends.

Cal snorted. "Yeah well, I thought I'd do a little investigating of my own."

Sara looked down at him, surprised by the vehemence. A moment later she wondered why. She knew Cal's history; the story no one else in Central did. "You smell a rat."

"A big one," Cal nodded. "I wish I could say it was anything more than an instinctive hunch, but I can't just sit by and watch."

Sara contemplated Cal's head and the papers beyond it for a moment as she thought. "If there's any information my clearance will get that yours won't that might be helpful, let me know." There was only so much they could do, not being assigned officially to the investigation, but that didn't mean they were helpless to get down to the truth of the matter. Even if the court-martial was over supposed infidelity, that left a lot of questions entirely unanswered.

There was something mildly satisfying about the look of surprise on Cal's face and he looked back over his shoulder at her. "Are you offering to cover my ass?"

"I'm your superior asking you to keep an eye on something that effects office morale and one of my officers," Sara smirked as she kept walking. "Don't get us both in hot water."

"Damn it," Cal laughed. "That's what I'm best at!"

"I wish you were staying longer," Aldon commented to his dad as they sat outside on the porch drinking lemonade and watching the boys and dogs rough-housing and playing with a ball in the yard. Ed, Winry, and Tore would be leaving in a couple of days to head home.

"It's tempting," Ed smiled, watching as Tore and Coran tackled each other, only to get swamped by both puppies and both of the younger boys, though it took Urey a lot of time to toddle up and join them. He mostly stood aside and watched and laughed. "But two weeks really was all we could spare with travel."

"Well you've been a huge help," Aldon grinned, sipping from his glass. "I've gotten more sleep since you got here than I did in the month before it!"

"That won't last I'm afraid," Ed pointed out. "Your Mom won't be here to take half of those middle of the night burpings and baby-walkings."

"Yeah, I know," Aldon sighed. "But Mom's cleaned every room in the house and half my workshop, and put practically a month's worth of cooked meals in the freezer. All I'll have to do is toss things in the oven and turn it on. The boys are all healthy again," he finished draining his lemonade. "It's just been a nice break. This last one was tougher on Cassie, but she's got a lot of her energy back. I think we'll be fine."

"Good," Ed nodded. "I think this was good for Tore too," he commented as he watched the dark haired young man out in the fray, grinning broadly. He so rarely acted like a kid that it was nice to see him just enjoying himself. "He and Coran really hit it off."

"I really like him," Aldon commented. "He's bright and surprisingly considerate. Though I see why Mom thinks he's a lot like you, or Sara on her bad days," he chuckled.

"Gee thanks," Ed snorted, but not really insulted. It was true after all. The kid was hot-tempered and tended to react with his emotions first and then employ the logic Ed knew lurked between his ears. He was also much more prone to testing limits than his own kids had been most of the time. "He's a good kid. He just had a tough break. Sciezka and Elicia are still looking into finding his mother, but there have been no new leads since the trail hit the Drachma border."

"Do you think she's alive?" Aldon asked softly. "She was sick right?"

Ed sighed and looked down, watching the ice in his glass swirl. "I wish I knew. For the kid's sake I hope she is, but it's been a year and a half. The longer it takes to find her the less chance I think we have. If she'd gotten successful treatment I think she would have come back for him or something." She just really didn't seem the type to abandon a child the more they learned.

"In Drachma, if she was broke she could be stuck in a town somewhere," Aldon considered. "Or still sick but alive. Getting a message across the border might be harder for an Amestrian if she can't afford the call." It would be long distance for certain.

"Still too many variables," Ed agreed. "That's why the experts are handling it. I'd charge up to Drachma right now if I didn't think there would be an international incident."

"Those do seem to happen a lot with you don't they?" Aldon grinned slyly. "I'm sure Aunt Elicia and Sciezka will find out what happened if there's any way to."

Ed nodded thoughtfully then shrugged. "So where did the girls go anyway?" Winry and Cassie – with Ian in a sling – had vanished a couple of hours before.

"They decided to enjoy a day in the village while they could," Aldon said. "I suspect they're doing some shopping."

"In other words nothing you or I would have any interesting in looking at, and conversations they'd rather have in private that are probably about us anyway," Ed smirked.

"Exactly," Aldon stood up and stretched. "We might as well live it up while we can."

"Just what did you have in mind?" Ed arched an eyebrow and looked up at his son.

Aldon shrugged and grinned. "You want another lemonade?"

August 1st, 1957

By the time Edward and Winry arrived back in Central, Riza was about ready to pull her hair out in frustration. It wasn't necessarily one thing, but the entire situation that had her irritated. Preliminary hearings had been going on for a few days. The officers on Maes court-martial board were being extremely thorough. They had called Maes in several times, and talked to Vanessa whose story had not changed. The part that made Riza want to bite something was the fact the girl made no bones about the fact she knew Maes was married and hadn't cared. She claimed he had come on to her while he was drunk and they had ended up back at her place.

They had talked to Elena, Roy, and Riza as well, and Riza knew they had talked to Marcus Kane and to Sara and several other people in Maes' office, getting back story and character witness. It didn't look good, but it wasn't over yet. It was just difficult to deal with. Everyone was tense and it was impossible not to hide that something was wrong from the kids, who were fussy and confused more often. Maes was depressed and stressed, Elena was subdued and emotional, Roy was alternately depressed and furious… Riza found it too tiring to find her temper. It wouldn't do any good anyway. So she spent her time soothing, offering consolation, cheering the children.

"I'm not sure how we'll make it another nine days," Riza admitted as she finished her explanation of the last several days' events as they pulled up outside the Elric's house. She had picked them up at the train station. "The final hearing and sentencing is on the tenth."

"We're here if you need anything," Winry assured her.

"I appreciate it," Riza smiled back.

"You want to come in and have a drink?" Edward offered as he stood and got out of the car, then he chuckled. "I think we've got a good stiff coffee around somewhere."

Riza couldn't help a chuckle. "That sounds heavenly."

August 9th, 1957

Tomorrow; the world ends tomorrow.

Maes stared at the glass of juice in front of him. It looked entirely unappetizing. He had turned down offers of a meal with Sara and Franz, with his parents, with a few others who still liked him enough – or knew Vanessa – and felt some remaining shred of sympathy. He should go home to Elena, but she had understood when he said he wanted some time to think by himself. It wasn't even dinner time yet. He had only stepped into the small restaurant because there seemed like nowhere else to go. He sat in a window seat, watching the world go by outside as if nothing was wrong.

It was killing him inside. All the years it had taken him to mend his reputation after he had trashed it the first time and been an idiot… and it was all gone. Whether he was the father of Vanessa's child or not, there wasn't one shred of evidence out there that would prove he hadn't at least slept with her. Chances were, even if the kid wasn't his, they wouldn't be able to tell after it was born either, not definitively. That was something he still wasn't ready to deal with, though he and Elena had discussed it. If it was his, how he could not help support a child? Even if he didn't like the mother and really, at this point, any friendliness he had ever felt for Vanessa had gone by the wayside after this.

Either way Maes got the feeling his career was over; goodbye State Alchemist License, goodbye Lieutenant Colonel… goodbye paycheck. Maes had no idea what he would do. He could still do alchemy, but who would hire him? Even if his office skills were good enough, which they should be, he wasn't sure anyone would want to hire someone who'd been run out of the military for dishonorable conduct.

If it weren't for Elena's inheritance, the both of them and their soon-to-be-three children would all be out in the streets.

No, juice wasn't even remotely strong enough. Maes didn't think he was stupid enough to make mistakes like this more than once, but he had, and right now the fact that he really wanted to drink himself into insensibility did not bode well for him ever managing not to do it again someday. What kind of a man was he? What kind of life was this really for Elena? He had felt like her hero once; her savior and protector. Now… she would have to deal with his utter failure.

"Mustang, snap out of it," an irritated voice snarled above him.

Startled, Maes looked up to see an intense expression on Cal Fischer's face. "What do you want, Whitewater?" he asked, scowling. "To poke at my wounds while they're fresh?"

"Oh you idiot!" Cal startled him by grabbing his collar and hauling upward. Maes followed simply to keep from being strangled. "Come with me. There's something you have to see." He didn't let go of Maes' shirt.

"Let go," Maes shoved the man. "What the heck is this?"

"A little reality check," Cal snorted. "You want the truth? You come with me."

"Where are we going?" Maes asked as he relented and started to follow the man.

As they stepped outside the restaurant Cal broke into a fast walk. "The hospital," he replied. "Vanessa had her kid this morning."

What?! "Three months early?" Maes couldn't believe his ears. "And it's alive?"

"More than alive," Cal looked ready to bite something. "I asked around and got a look; full term by the looks of things."

The information was almost coming too fast for Maes to process, but it sank in as they walked quickly out of downtown and back towards the hospital. If Vanessa's baby was full term there was no way it could be his no matter what had happened! Though his exuberant relief failed quickly. They would still ask the question then if he had ever slept with Vanessa before that in the right stretch of time. The answer was no, but what would Vanessa say? Did she dare lie to the military court? Maes didn't know. He also wondered who was the father?

"What were you doing at the hospital anyway?" he asked Cal.

"Getting the skin around this looked at," Cal tapped his auto-mail leg with a hand without missing a step. "Acting up a little."

Maes' other questions were answered only when they arrived on the hospital floor that held the maternity wing. When Maes mentioned who they were there to see, he was let through only because his name was – he supposed he shouldn't be surprised – on the approved visitor list.

Vanessa lay in the hospital bed, her normally coiffed hair pulled back and not styled. In a little bed next to hers was a baby wrapped in a soft blue blanket. "Hello, Maes," she said softly. For the first time ever, Maes thought she looked ashamed.

"Vanessa," he nodded curtly. "Cal said there was something I needed to see. Your kid's not mine, is it?"

"Take a look at him," Vanessa replied, subdued.

Maes did just that. He walked over and looked down at the infant; a boy. He gasped slightly when he saw the face. "He's Ishbalan?" The little boy blinked up at him from a tanned complexion – not as dark as a full Ishbalan perhaps, but definitely darker than his skin or even Vanessa's – and distinct red eyes.

Now he understood why Cal looked so irate. This boy could not, in any way, be Maes'. He looked back up at Vanessa, who looked away. "I had an Ishbalan lover," she admitted, "For close to a year. Then he up and decided he'd had enough of me and left even though I'd started to think, maybe, he might be one to keep. Apparently not."

"Clearly," Maes replied unsympathetically. "So how do I come into this picture?"

"I was depressed. I had another lover but he didn't last long. Then there was you," she replied. "I found out I was pregnant right after that. I panicked. Neither of the other guys were around; I tried to find them."

"So you just decided to pick me?" Maes felt his temper rising. "You knew it might not be mine, probably wasn't mine, but you let me believe it?" he shouted, not caring if he scared the child. "What were you going to do; let me support you and some kid based on a lie?"

"Not originally," Vanessa admitted, still not looking his direction. "But when I went to your house and found out you didn't remember that night… I just jumped on the chance." She sounded miserable; well good!

"And did it ever occur to you that you might ruin my marriage over this?" Maes kept going. Damn it he wanted to have this out and be done with it! "My career? Infidelity is a court-martial offense as you damn well know now if you were stupid enough not to know then. Look at me!"

Vanessa winced, but she did turn her head enough that he could see her eyes. Maes had never felt so burning hot, and yet so icy cold at the same time. He didn't care that she hurt; that she'd lost someone. She had purposefully stepped in and possibly ruined his entire life!

"Worst of all this, is I don't remember a single bit of it," Maes loomed over the bed, making her meet his eyes. "We could have done anything. I could have been with a dozen women for all I know; and you're the only person with any idea of what happened. I'm going to lose everything for a mistake I still have trouble believing I made."

Dark eyes looked up at him in horror; an expression Maes found disgustingly satisfying at the moment. Vanessa had never seen him angry, Maes recalled. Depressed sure, drunk plenty of times, but never furious. Well he hoped she was enjoying her first glimpse. "Maes…." She spoke softly into the long silence that hung between them. "We… we didn't do anything."

That… had been the last thing Maes expected to hear. "What the hell do you mean?" he asked, stunned. Off to one side he could see Cal Fischer still standing in the room, scowling, arms crossed.

A tear rolled down Vanessa's cheek. "I lied, all right? When you said you didn't remember anything I took advantage of the situation, but you didn't sleep with me."

"How am I supposed to believe you?" Maes snorted. Was this some sick trick? "How do I know you're not lying now?"

"You don't," Vanessa replied. "But I'll tell you anyway. I was feeling sorry for myself and I wandered into the bar. You were there, already completely shit-faced, and I walked up and did the usual routine. You didn't react at all, just sat there blathering on about how it was your fault Elena was injured and lost a baby. I managed to convince you to come back to my place; it was close and I couldn't get you home in that state. You passed out on my bed. I tried to get you undressed a little so you'd sleep better, but you weren't overly cooperative." She shrugged. "That's it; the whole story. You disappeared in the morning before I could say anything."

It made sense. It was a nice, straightforward, perfectly innocent story. Either way, Maes had no way to tell if it was any truer than the other bull she had been spouting. "And how do you intend to prove that's true?" he snorted softly, feeling his throat tighten like it had too often lately. "You already told them that I slept with you; that your kid was mine. Even though your son obviously isn't mine, that doesn't prove my innocence."

"It just means you don't have to worry about supporting us," Vanessa nodded. "You want me to prove it? All I have is my word, but I'll testify tomorrow. They didn't ask me to come back again, but I will." Maes had never heard her so soft, so defeated. Frankly, he had never heard her so sincere. "I'll tell them what really happened, and that I lied. I'll tell them about Tram, and about Harry – the other guy."

"And you'll tell them I was so blind-drunk I couldn't do anything." Well, it may or may not keep him in the military, but it would hopefully clear him of any accusations of infidelity. At least there was an element of truth there! "Elena would believe that."

"Oh?" Cal gave him a curious look.

Maes felt his face flush, but he said it anyway. Idiot that he was, and as much as he hated to think about it, admitting it now might save his hide. He'd all but forgotten! "After a certain point if I get too drunk I'm useless in bed." He sighed. "If they want proof they can bring as much alcohol into the room as they want and have a doctor prove it right there." He had rarely gotten that drunk in his life, even as much as he'd drunk after making a fool of himself with Sara. It took a lot… and he'd had a lot that night!

Cal snorted, but smirked at him. "Do I get to keep that piece of information as potential blackmail?"

Maes shook his head. "After tomorrow, half the Amestris military will probably know about it." And if it cleared his record, Maes didn't care!

Riza wasn't sure how relieved to be by the revelation Maes brought home that evening. Certainly it was good that Vanessa's child was not his, and after this whole mess the family could just forget about her, but it was a tenuous shot at best to prove he hadn't slept with the woman. Even assuming she was telling the truth now, the court may not believe her.

Roy seemed even less convinced, but he kept quiet – perhaps too quiet – through dinner at Maes and Elena's house; a dinner Maes had frantically called as soon as he got home. The baby wasn't his, Vanessa was going to testify tomorrow that she had lied, and hopefully they could prove that Maes was innocent of the given charges.

The person who needed to know though, seemed the most willing to forgive. Elena had accepted it almost as soon as the words left Maes' mouth; nodding rather vehemently – and with some amusement – when Maes pointed out the truth that clinched it all.

Riza had never particularly wanted to know that much about her son's sexual performance.

When they got home afterwards, Roy vanished into his office without a word. Riza let him alone for a while. She let the dogs out, put the tea kettle on the stove, and went upstairs to take a bath. After the ups and downs of the last several days, she needed a way to relax. The hot, steamy water – scented lightly with lilac – helped. Afterwards, she got into her nightgown and robe and went downstairs for that cup of tea.

As best she could tell, Roy had not come out of his study. Riza's best clue was the fact that the dogs were still outside, scratching to come in. Once she let them in and fed them, she knocked on the study door. "Roy?"

For several seconds there was no answer. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were all right," Riza replied. She didn't open the door. She had learned over the years that it was safer to wait until invited if Roy didn't have the door open. Ruining an alchemy experiment never yielded pleasant results with Roy's temper.

"Just ducky," Roy replied snidely. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Riza had an unpleasant thought, but one that wouldn't go away. "Can I come in?"

"If you want," Roy sighed, "but only if you promise to behave."

Sarcasm of the highest degree. Riza opened the door and went in.

Roy sat in his chair, leaning against the desk with one elbow. Next to his elbow sat a half-empty glass and an open bottle of whiskey. He gave her a short look that dared Riza to say anything.

Not that that stopped her. Riza sighed, feeling disappointed, angry, and most of all sad. "Things aren't that bad," she pointed out.

"Aren't they?" Roy snorted softly. "You really think the men on that panel are going to take the word of a girl who has obviously lied for anything?"

"You don't believe Maes is innocent?" Riza frowned, surprised.

Roy shook his head. "I don't believe they will be able to trust that one of her versions of the story is the truth over the other. Such a tenuous thing to base it on… that my son couldn't have had sex with her if he wanted to that night." He picked up the glass and drank. "One way or the other, I didn't think Maes did it, but there's nothing concrete. Hughes would have laughed at what Maes called evidence this evening."

"You always were a pessimist." Riza shook her head. "There's always a chance. What matters is that Elena knows he didn't do it, and Maes can feel that he can trust himself."

"That's good," Roy smirked humorlessly. "Because after tomorrow there may no longer be any Mustangs in the Amestrian army." Obviously he did not think they would let Maes keep his position and his license even if he was proven innocent of the charges. It was possible that if all they had was a dubious case Maes could be ousted for the sake of politics and cleaning up a mess in the military. It had been done before, and the fact that he was Maes Mustang would not help him this time. In fact, it might be to his detriment. Riza understood this as well as her husband did.

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Riza asked softly. No more worrying about losing family members in war or on dangerous mission; a break from fretting about the state of the country.

Roy, unsurprisingly, saw it differently. "To have it end like this is almost the worst I can imagine." He looked at the board on the wall that hung above his desk, plastered with pictures of old friends and new, years of family condensed into a few images. "That it had to happen to Maes… it should have been me."

"What?" Riza couldn't have heard that right. "Be serious, Roy."

"I am," he poured more whiskey over the ice in his glass. "I defied the legal government, essentially led a coup, murdered my commanding officer… and in the end what punishment did I get? Self-imposed exile, granted my commission back as soon as I showed up the Assembly was so frickin' happy to have me back. Then they made me head of the military." He tipped the glass back and drained it. From looking, Riza guessed it was only his second.

"It does seem unfair," Riza agreed, sipping her steaming tea.

"If nothing else," Roy sighed, "I'm tougher than he is. I know Elena believes in him, and I'm glad. I just wish I was as confident that they'll make it through this in one piece. In the long run I mean."

"We've made it through as much," Riza pointed out softly.

"Exactly," Roy smirked. "But I feel like somehow I missed imparting something to my son – and I have no idea what – that would have helped him not make the mistakes he has. This situation should never have happened in the first place. It's ridiculous!" His voice rose louder.

"Calm down," Riza reached out to place a hand on Roy's shoulder, but he jerked back slightly, just out of reach. "Roy, please." She was going to keep her calm. Tonight of all nights the last thing she wanted was to fight with Roy. "Maes is who he is. You know what he gets from you? The strength to keep going even when he feels like giving up; even when he's dragged down depressed and drunk…. Which he also gets from you."

Roy followed her gaze to the bottle then back with his eye, and smirked. "Want some? It's the good stuff."

"You are incorrigible," Riza sighed, rolling her eyes. "I don't even want to know where you've been hiding that thing."

"You want to offer me something more distracting?" He asked with a familiar gleam in his eye.

"Will you stop?" Riza asked.

"Tell you what," Roy offered with a grandiosely wide sweep of his arm, feigning gallantry. "Have a drink with me and I'll whisk you upstairs and we can distract each other for the rest of the night."

He was serious. Well, anything was better than Roy drinking himself senseless. It had been a long time since that happened; and Riza didn't want to see it again in her lifetime. "Oh all right," she smiled slightly, holding out her teacup. "But only a splash or I'll kick your ass instead."

Roy picked up the bottle and poured just a small sip's worth, if that, into her cup. "As you wish, my lady."

August 10th, 1957

Maes wasn't entirely sure he was still breathing when Vanessa finished speaking in front of the panel of officers serving in the martial court. She had confessed, just as she promised, and brought her one day old son – both of them just out of the hospital – to prove that the boy was not Maes', and then admitted to having lied, and given them the details of what she now claimed had really happened that night and the months before it too. She admitted the failed attempt at seducing Maes, insisted all he talked about was Elena and the baby before he passed out on her bed, and her attempts to get anything more out of him had been useless. Returning the watch she had done only when she had the courage to go over, and how she had taken advantage of the realization that Maes did not remember that night – something she had not known before. She admitted to taking advantage of that situation and having avoided going to the hospital, been in denial over being pregnant for some time until it was too obvious even to her that she was. Hence the confusion over the investigative officers not finding any record that might confirm conception.

"Do you wish to add anything, Lieutenant Colonel?" Peters from Investigations asked, turning to Maes, who stood at attention, waiting.

Maes swallowed. Last chance, Mustang; don't blow it. "I wish I could say I remembered either version of the story, especially this one, Sir," he admitted. "All I can say is that what Miss Yates said about my umm… impairment when overly intoxicated is true. I would submit to medical testing as evidence if that is the wish of this court." Not that he expected them to want to actually get him that drunk just to see if it was true. Testing it would be rather embarrassing. "I was in that bar because I was dealing with the loss of our unborn. When I woke up I had no memory of anything, but was partially dressed, including my shorts." A point he made one last time, knowing that it meant little, but in light of Vanessa's statements might be helpful. "I was hung over and confused; I panicked and left; all in all several lousy decisions made in a short amount of time. Nevertheless, I've been drunk before, I've done stupid things before. I don't think anyone here has forgotten that fact given how much it's been dredged up recently. But in all of that, I've never cheated on anyone. I've been faithful to my wife. I love her, and I don't honestly believe that I would have slept with any other woman – especially not that one – no matter how out of it I was."

Vanessa looked mildly stung by that realization, but then accepting. What else could she have really expected?

There were several long minutes of deliberation in another room during which Maes continued to stand, unashamed that he was sweating profusely, and aware of the other military personnel in the room watching him. Time dragged on though Maes could not see a clock. Still he guessed over half an hour had passed. He was almost relieved when the panel returned. Whatever happened now… it would all be over in a few minutes.

General Morroh – the ancient man assigned to the head of this court-martial – stood and looked sharply as Maes. "Lieutenant Colonel Mustang, it has been determined that this military court finds no evidence conclusive either way on this matter. However, in consulting with various other witnesses, including psychological experts just now, it is our judgment that Miss Yates did indeed lie about your supposed recent involvement, and both of your reasoning's and reactions based on this later story match both of your psychological profiles."

They did? Maes understood now what had taken so long. He suspected they had probably called in Doc Irons. He didn't respond. He had not been given leave to speak.

"Furthermore, your exemplary record for the past several years cannot be entirely ignored. That, along with other evidence leads us to determine that you are not guilty of the charges made here in regards to infidelity."

Thank goodness. Whatever they had uncovered that had not been shared with him – he was not privy to most of the records of testimonials or other information they had gathered – was apparently enough.

They weren't finished with him yet though. "However, it is also our decision that your commanding officer will be responsible for issuing you a suitable punishment for your lack of sense and the un-officer-like conduct which caused this situation in the first place."

Kane. That wouldn't be Sara; they'd send him up to the Brigadier General for this one. But, for once, Maes was good with that. "Yes, Sir."

Within a few minutes the court was dismissed, and everyone who had assembled filed out of the room.

Sara was waiting in the hallway with his mother, father, and Elena. "You're a free man," Sara smiled.

"Barely," Maes chuckled weakly as he hugged his mother, and then Elena tightly. His father did not look like he was in a public hugging mood.

"Thank goodness it's over," Elena squeezed him back.

"I wonder what other evidence they could have had," Maes commented as he leaned against the wall in the hallway as most of the adrenaline that had kept him going fled all at once.

"Several first hand reports from Vanessa's neighbors and a record of noise complaints in that building for the past couple of years regarding how thin the walls are," Calvin Fisher walked up, smirking broadly.

"And just where did they get those?" Maes asked him suspiciously.

Sara chuckled. "Not everyone was convinced of your guilt," she commented. "So the alchemists did a little digging of their own. It was Whitewater who had that idea."

Maes was floored…to put it mildly. "When did you get that?"

"Last night," Cal shrugged. "I went over there after I left the hospital on a hunch. Apparently there have been noise complaints on almost every apartment in that building for the thin walls and the ability to hear everything that's going on. No reports that night, and several of her neighbors – the same ones who said they saw you leave – well what no one asked them was if they heard you guys do anything. Not a peep all night. Dragged in late, the couple who saw you agreed you were too drunk to stand without help, and were gone around the time people were heading out for breakfast. There wasn't time to talk to you before the trial, sorry," he shrugged, looking not the least bit sorry.

Maes wasn't sure whether to hug the man or punch him. "Thanks, Whitewater. What do I owe you for this?"

"Oh it's a freebie," Cal replied coolly, his expression hardening just briefly. "I just don't like to see anyone get screwed over by a bitch."

Maes had the feeling that was the only explanation he was going to get. For now though, he'd take it!

Author's note: Finis! Expect a little less angst in the next story. A little.... *grins*