Another Flashback. Sorry. I'm just really into showing their awareness of one another as they come to realize they have feelings for each other.

Christmas eve. One of the few days a year that people offered their hands and hearts in fellowship. It was a merry scene. Lights illuminated the streets. Trees stood decorate with glass ornaments and garland. Some were even strung with popcorn. Many wonderful smells wafted out into the streets from homes as they prepared feasts for family gatherings.

Edward kicked the snow, turned to slush, as he walked through the empty streets. His breath was thick as he sighed. He stopped to watch a family through an open window curtain. Their laughter spilled through the walls as they told stories of good things to come. The strong winter wind cut through his coat like a knife. His hands froze through warm wool mittens. It was the coldest winter he felt he had ever experienced. Then again, he had never been so alone, and he wondered if it felt more icey because there was no one beside him as he pressed forward.

He gawked as sappy music drifted through the streets. There was nothing for him this holiday. He assured his family in Resembool that he wanted to be alone, it was just another day to him… right? Whether or not he had changed his mind, it was too late now. There were no trains going out or coming into Central for two more days. He stopped to pondered why he always felt compelled to put himself in personal anguish. Was it because he felt like he didn't deserve happiness or was it because he was a recluse? Not wanting to think those thoughts any longer he realised he was at Central Base. He sighed in relief. There was nothing like mind numbing work to keep him occupied.

He could almost hear Alphonse's voice full of sadness as Ed relayed to him that he didn't want to celebrate any holiday revolving around a deity that he didn't believe in. His brother had shakily answered that it was his decision and that he wouldn't press forward on the subject. He was sure that Al had hung up the phone and, at the same time, hung his head to sob gently. It had been over a year since Edward had visited. Every holiday was an opportunity for him to invite his older brother to their home and every wish was in vain. It stung Edward to heart the smallest fraction. Not because he was missing the holiday, but because he was missing his family.

He sat down in his squalid little cubicle. Every noise he made rang back to him in an echo. He was alone in that great big office. He buried himself in his work. Forcing himself to forget how sad and small he truly felt. He stamped and signed and sealed report after report until he came to the last sheet of paper. It was a letter from a higher up, he could tell by the wax seal holding the letter closed. He opened it quickly, if it was anything important, it probably wasn't good. He thought to himself about the last time he had gotten one of these. It was a handwritten letter from his superior officer telling him how he had majorly screwed up in filing something with the wrong department. He had even been laid off of work for two days because of that accident.

Of course, no one had noticed. He was the 'get there early, go home late, and eat lunch at your desk' kind of guy. He didn't even know one person on this floor. He realised that he hadn't spoken to anyone here in almost a month.

He sighed and opened the letter carefully, trying not to rip the dense paper underneath the envelope.

"Dear Mr. Elric,

It has come to my attention that you are without family in Central. We humbly invite you to our Holiday gathering. It's at 9 pm sharp on the third floor, Christmas Eve. Please join us as we celebrate together.

General Roy Mustang."

Edward scanned the letter and looked to the clock. It was 8:25. He abruptly wadded the paper in both hands and angrily threw it in his trash bin. He locked his eyes on the cream colored ball, as they stung with greedy tears. He thought to himself, why spend this day with people he didn't know, or like, when he didn't even want to be with his own family. He didn't need someone else's sympathy. He had his own self doubt and pride to deal with.

But still…

He reached for the letter again, slowly grasping the crinkled page in his fingers. His tears stained the surface as he read it again, the ink smearing as he wiped his face. He wondered what it would be like to be surrounded by happy faces and cheerful conversation. He placed the letter in his lap and listened to the gears in his leg click and hum.

"Knock, knock."

Edward looked up through his small door to see a pair of cold, dark eyes staring back at him.

"I thought I'd find you here." Roy's eyes were clinical and guarded. He smirked as Edward scowled at the letter and did his best to hide it.

"So… are you coming?" Roy asked as he leant against the frame of the entryway.

"It's not like I have anything better to do, but I… I won't know anyone." Edward said as he shoved the paper into his desk and stood to grab another stack of waiting paperwork.

"That can wait and you know me." Roy said taking Edward's arm.

"That's not something to be proud about, Mustang." He retorted as he shook off Roy's arm and sat down at his desk.

"Well, we'll have food and booze." Roy stated as he looked away. Edward perked up. He was getting hungry.

"Ok, but I'm not going for you. I'm going to get drunk." Edward lifted himself from his desk and quickly sat back down as his automail leg made a resounding pop. He grit his teeth together as he realised he had blown a fuse running directly to the connectors on his nervous system port.

"What happened?" Roy asked suddenly kneeling at Edward's side.

"It's fine. I just need to get to my apartment. Winry taught me how to fix it." He tried to push Roy away as he went the long way around his desk. Grasping the edge for stability, but also to keep himself from making painstaking noise.

"I'm fine. I've just blown a fuse is all." He tried to straighten himself proudly as he took one shaky step forward and fell to the ground. Roy grasp his hand before he hit the floor.

"We have plenty of time to get your apartment and back to the party." Roy said as he threw Edward's arm over his shoulder and reached to grasp Edward's ribcage.

"Alright. Just don't think that I couldn't make it there without you." Edward's proud tongue lashed out. He hated being pitied and this was obviously pity.

They made their slow descent out of the building and the bitter cold raged in their face as they pressed on towards Edward's place. It was a short walk to the large standard military issue building. Edward sighed as he looked to the long staircase leading to his door. Three flights. He shook his head as they began to climb them. The searing hot pain in his leg was almost unbearable. They had only made it halfway up the first set of steps when Edward stopped.

Without a word, Roy pulled him into his large broad arms. Edward struggled in his grip for a moment before he accepted that this was the only way to get there as quickly, and the least painfully, as possible. Roy continued to hold him in his arms as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was delightfully warm. He sat Edward down on the couch carefully before having a good look around.

"Thank you." Edward said a little miserably.

"Don't mention it." Roy said as they went to work replacing the fuse.

Edward gripped down as he reattached the connector, but he couldn't hold back an ear deafening cry as the automail leg came to life. He let his head fall backwards as the lightning bolt of torture subsided to a dull ache. He slowly moved his leg and foot, testing it to make sure that he had done everything correctly. He only had to do that one other time, so the possibility of screwing up was rather high.

"Feel better?" Roy asked looking worried from where he sat beside Edward. He rarely ever saw anyone with automail, much less watch them work on one. He wondered briefly if it was a private moment, but from the way Edward peered at him made him forget that thought.

"What? Never seen anyone do that before?" Edward rolled his eyes and looked away. Of course it was frightening. He could especially scare someone with his port; wires hanging, and an open ended stump. He chuckled to himself, as he had many times someone had looked on to him with a mixture of sorrow, disgust, and curiosity.

"No." Roy answered a little more quiet than he was used to.

"Ahn. I feel much better now." Edward said standing to his feet. He jumped from one side to the other.

"It just blows me away that I can abuse this leg like crazy, but I turn around to get up out of a seat and it buckles. Ridiculous." Edward laughed as he put his pants back on and zipped them up.

"I'm just surprised and glad you were able to fix it so easily. It would have been a real bummer to wait two days for a shop to open up." Roy said as he stood himself.

"Ha, I would have just taken off the whole leg and made you drag me around." Edward said teasingly.

"I would have, but I would have laughed at you the whole time. Stumpy." Roy laughed as Edward fumed.

"Yeah, yeah." He picked up his coat and threw it on, turning out the lights as they walked out into the blistering blizzard once again.

They lightly quarrelled and talked on their way back. Edward struggled to keep up the pace as the snow deepened under their feet. Roy instinctively slowed as he noticed that the snow was coming up to Edward's knees.

"We're late." Edward said peering at his watch.

"They'll survive." Roy muttered as he opened the door to the party.

Everyone stopped their merry chattering and turned to them as they appeared in the doorway. Roy went straight to an empty couch as Edward mindlessly followed. His cheeks burned from the sudden attention. He flattened himself to his seat beside Roy, trying to make himself as invisible as possible.

"They're staring." Edward whispered to Roy as he glanced around the room.

Roy cleared his throat noisily and they quickly turned back to their drinks and conversation.

"What was that?" Edward asked as he looked up at Roy.

"Well… I'm sure that everyone expected me to bring a date and I'm sure they think you're it." Roy smirked as a server brought them drinks.

"Are you serious? I knew I shouldn't have come." Edward rubbed the bridge of his nose in embarrassment.

"Who cares what they think?" Roy said as he lifted the spiked eggnog to his lips.

"I do. Now a ton of people, I don't know, believe we're sleeping together. That's doesn't bother you at all?" Edward whispered a he looked around carefully. Roy sputtered on his drink and steadied himself.

"Ahn, It's Christmas, Ed. So they think that I'm sleeping with the great FullMetal Alchemist. Let them talk. After all, we know we're not together and that's what matters." Roy turned in his seat and motioned for Edward to come closer.

"Besides, it wouldn't kill you to act like you like me for one night." Roy whispered softly as Edward's paled. Roy eyed him like candy over his glass and Edward wondered if he was hitting on him.

"Roy Mustang. Wonderful to see you again." A beautiful woman made herself known to Edward's superior officer. She remarked in a way that made her sound, almost jealous.

"Alice." Roy nodded as he straightened himself and looked up to her.

"Nice to see you so… open." She retorted turning up her nose at Edward.

"Excuse me?" Edward glared at her intensely. She rolled her eyes and leant down to Roy so they were eye to eye.

"You're boyfriend looks feisty. Is that how you like them nowadays?" She chuckled leaning back up to look around before she evilly poured her drink in Edward's lap. He leapt to his feet trying to brush off the liquid before it stained his pants.

"Oops." She smiled and laughed as she walked away. Edward had enough. He turned to Roy who caught the young lady by her wrist.

"That was cheap of you, Ms. Smith. I think you owe him an apology." He let go of her and cleared his throat. Leaning in to make his voice as menacing as possible to her.

"You forget that this is my office and that this is my station. Pull another stunt like that and I'll have you escorted out. Have a nice evening, Ms. Smith." Roy pulled away and waved farewell as she drew back, wounded, and shuffled into the crowd. He turned to apologise to Edward, realising that he was making his way out. He quickly followed after him as Edward left.

"Edward." Roy called out. Edward turned to face him outside of the party in the hallway.

"I'm going home. I knew I never should have come here." He sighed and began to leave again before Roy grasp his hand.

"If you don't want to stay, then neither do I. Those people are high class assholes." Roy said as he realised that Edward was the only true friend he had inside that room.

"You belong with those people. You have a reputation to maintain. I'm not fancy, or eccentric, or flashy. Thank you for the invitation, but I think I'm through with celebrating." Edward plucked his hand from Roy's and smiled.

"Do you mind if I walk with you? I'm finished as well. This evening has left a sour taste in my mouth." Without an answer, Roy and Edward took off side by side.

"You don't have to do this. It's not like I wasn't invited home. I chose not to go." Edward shoved his hands in his pockets. They walked through the park lazily. What was once a blizzard was now a peaceful snowfall. Flakes of white powder drifted through the air and landed on the ground. Edward looked up to the sky and opened his mouth, letting a few fall on his tongue. Roy chuckled as he did the same. It had been a stretch of time since Roy had played in the snow.

"Hey Edward." Roy called out mischievously. Edward smirked as he realised Roy was holding a ball of snow. He threw it, hitting Edward in the chest.

"You wanna play old man, we'll play." He scooped up a fist full himself and was surprised as Roy threw another, grazing his cheek. Roy took off in a fit of laughter as Edward chased after him. He was right on his heels when Roy stopped and turned around, grabbing Edward and throwing him into a snowbank. Roy laid down beside him and plowed his hands and feet through the thick white, making a rather large snow angel.

"Don't forget to put horns on it. That's the only way it would suit you." Edward smiled as he propped himself up on his elbows. Roy smiled back as he devilishly complied and place two horns on top.

"Perfect." Roy stated chuckling. He watched Edward look up to the dark night sky and he did the same. You couldn't see many stars, the snow made sure to hide them, but you could see the bright blue moon hanging among them.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" Roy said pointedly looking at Edward. Edward's head snapped down to make sure he had heard Roy right. His large golden eyes seemed bigger as he swallowed and cleared his throat.

"Yes. Yes, it is." He agreed softly, not looking away.

Edward was rehabilitating well. He spent hours learning how to use his freshly sliced abs to sit up again. Every day, Roy visited him and helped any way he could. They hadn't spoken much about dating or being together, but everyday was an opportunity for Roy to get that much closer to Edward. Watching someone struggle through physical therapy was one of the most intimate things Roy had ever done.

"Today is the day." Roy settled into his claimed chair at Edward's bedside. He watched Edward hold his side and swing his legs over the edge, standing on his own. He was doing spectacular for only being in the hospital two weeks.

"Yeah." Edward knew that Roy's comment had two meanings. His time at the hospital was over, but his contract was also up. He still had another month to reinstate his title if he pleased.

"Edward, I could give you a job where you sat in my office all day. You don't have to leave." He gently took Edward's hand and lifted himself from his seat, guiding Edward to sit down in his place.

"I know." Edward said snapping. His pain tolerance was at its threshold. Roy knelt in front him and placed his hand on Edward's knee.

"I'll miss you." He was uncharacteristically showing his soft side. It was true. He would miss Edward dearly. His heart stung as Edward chuckled.

"Keep your pants on, Roy. I didn't say I was going anywhere, did I?" He placed his strong fingers on Roy's gloved hand. Roy's chest pounded as he mulled over what Edward said. They sat there, smiling like fools at one another. They were interrupted as a nurse let himself in to officially discharge Edward.

"Alright. Looks like you get to go home today, Mr. Elric." He quickly went over a few instructions on how to care for his wound and told him that if he had any problems to come back, that they would be more than happy to assist him at any time.

They wheeled him to the front and helped him get settled in to Mustang's awaiting car. Roy took him out to lunch. He had brought Edward an extra meal every day, knowing that his appetite far surpassed the three meals he received at the hospital. His efforts felt almost wasted as Edward looked like he had lost a good chunk of weight and muscle.

They laughed over past stories of bickering and squabbles between them. They were equally matched when it came to wit and it was easy for them to bump heads over the most miniscule of subjects. There were many times they had both came away from an argument fuming, knowing that the other was right, but too proud to admit they were wrong. There were many similarities about the duo that neither one of them felt comfortable enough to express. It was hard to apologise when you felt a personal vendetta floating about both sides of the spectrum.

A lot had changed in the last few years. Their hotheaded arguments had subsided to meaningful conversation. Edward became independent in his work and Roy had kept to the shadows, watching Edward from afar. He would often stay late to make sure no one bothered the young man and see him off. Even if his affection and attention towards Edward had been one sided, he didn't mind. He knew that Edward was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, but when you fall for someone your judgement gets cloudy.

"Roy…" Edward stared at his food, it went untouched. Roy was lost in thought as Edward's voice sucked him back to reality.

"Do you think that this will work?" Edward said quietly. Roy dabbed at his mouth with a cloth napkin and sighed. He had many questions himself.

"I wouldn't have tried if I didn't think we could get along." Roy stated, trying to steer the conversation to a safe place.

"I'm sure we could get along pretty well. You know that's not what I'm asking." Edward clasp his hands together in his lap as he waited for Roy's answer.

"I will do everything in my power to protect and uphold our relationship. I never said it was going to be easy, but nothing I have ever wanted has come to me without a struggle." Roy's words were torturously slow. He wasn't being vindictive, just trying to figure out what he was saying as he said it. It was true. Nothing had ever been cut and dry for Edward either. He knew where Roy was coming from.

"I understand. You have been by my side all this time. You've already, more than enough, proven to me that you aren't going anywhere. I just want to be committed to someone, wholly. I want and feel the same things you do." Edward wasn't guarded. He stuttered through his sentences trying hard to show Roy that he did care.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that, I have feelings for you too and I don't want to push them away anymore." Edward blushed deeply as those words left his mouth. Roy beamed in his seat as he listened to Edward carefully.

"I'm glad." Roy said steadily. They both went to their food, silently enjoying each other's gaze.

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