Edward was so relieved to finally be going home as arrangements were made for them to leave Briggs. There was a lot to look forward to.

He could finally see his daughter, show Gracia that he had been true to his promise to bring Elysia back, he could wrestle with his nephews and nieces without worrying about hurting them with his automail, plus there were plans that were needed for the new school he and Al would start. But there were a few things waiting back at Central he wasn't necessarily looking forward to.

One of those things was the situation his fellow State Alchemists were in now. He didn't know what story Mustang would spin and finally decided it was for the Fuhrer to handle. He was glad he didn't tell Mustang to step down; he would have enough on his plate when the school was open and filled to the brim with alchemists relearning their craft. Once he put that behind him it was easy to face the others.

Havoc made up his mind to stay in the military and was quickly promoted to General making Edward's transition out much easier since he already had Havoc doing most of his work in the first place. So work was another item off his list.

But there was still one thing, person, actually, he didn't think he could avoid.

Erika. Richard's mother.

She would surely be at the train station to see her son. And Elysia would be there as well. It wasn't so much embarrassing but complicated. Emotions had a funny way of driving people to do or say things. But a few more days spent at Briggs - building up the strength in his arm and leg, getting to know Richard - his worries faded and he wasn't inclined to spoil the mood as everyone else seemed to be moving on past the ordeal. Nothing was perfect but when everyone got the rest they needed they were more inclined to move on and get back to a normal life. It put Edward at ease and he felt more relaxed… and forgetful.

Once they were on the train back to Central, he knew the inevitable was coming but he couldn't get his brain to wrap around the situation. The warm sun shining through the window was making him drowsy as he sat with Elysia leaning against him. Richard, Al and Havoc were playing a quiet, friendly game of poker in the corner of the private car they were riding in.

It was all so peaceful and soothing. Every so often he would sniff or kiss Elysia's hair gently. It felt good to feel her in his arms. It was so much better to be able now with two whole arms. He was falling into a false sense of everything-will-be-all-right but after a while he began to notice something.

Perhaps it was having the use of a real arm that he felt the difference. She was still and silent, seemingly relaxed but not completely. He could feel her tense muscles and there were times when she took a deep breath, she shuddered, like she was trying hard not to cry. He couldn't see her face and he loathed the thought of moving but he wanted to know what was wrong.

"Hey," he said gently nudging her. "Let's go lie down. I'm getting sleepy sitting here in the sun." It wasn't a complete lie.

"Sure," she said, her voice small and emotionless.

His leg was still weak but he had worked with it enough that he could limp along on his own, though it was difficult to do so in a moving train. Once alone in their sleeping quarters, Elysia dropped onto the bed, her back to Edward. He sat on the edge, watching her.

"Elysia, what's wrong?"

She didn't answer right away and he didn't press for one, waiting patiently until she was ready. Then her body began to shake and he heard her crying. He let her cry.

After a couple minutes she calmed down and each breath was more even than the one before. He risked reaching out to her. He placed his hand on her arm and she sat up quickly, moving out of his reach and turned to face him, eyes flashing with anger and not the type he usually liked to provoke out of her. He'd seen her livid before but not like this.

"Why didn't you tell Roy to step down?!" She demanded angrily, her face streaked with drying tears.

Edward could only stare, dumbfounded, caught completely off guard. He knew she'd be upset but not like this. He couldn't find the words to explain. He was shocked into silence facing her accusing eyes.

"He kept my father's murderer alive all these years, Edward!" She went on when he didn't say anything. "And did you know my father faced two homunculi and that Envy took the form of my mother! And you!" She said her voice rising with each word. "You don't even care that you nearly died! Just because Al set things right doesn't mean you can act like it wasn't a big deal! And now we're going home and..." her face crumbled, losing steam suddenly and she turned back around, falling back onto the bed, her arms wrapped across her chest.

"Elysia..." he said reaching out for her.

"Don't touch me," she said and he pulled his hand back.

He sat there, watching her, hoping she'd turn around to look at him. He felt incredibly stupid and awful for dismissing his troubles and not even bothering to consider Elysia's over the last few days. She wasn't crying, though going by her body language she was fighting not to start up again. Finally, she did turn back around, eyes red and swollen but dry. "I'm sorry," she said looking up at Edward with sad eyes. "So much is going through my head right now; it's so hard to sort things out; to really understand what is bothering me."

"What you're doing now is good. It'll help to talk things out to help you heal emotionally and I can help you sort through it all," Edward offered, silently thanking Izumi for her words of wisdom to him at a time when he was young and emotionally distraught from the war.

"I don't think you can," Elysia said miserably as she sat up. "It feels like I'm making most of it up."

"Try me. I'm used to making stuff up in my head too you know," he said with a knowing grin. "Besides, maybe I can offer a different perspective. Things always look different through someone else's eyes."

Elysia sighed and nodded. It took her a minute before she finally found something that was easy to start with.

"Well, I'm so relieved you've resigned I feel like I'm betraying you even though you decided on your own," she said guiltily.

Edward smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that. Al is giddy with joy about it; I think compared to him you look like you don't care."

Elysia laughed but any minor amusement she felt in that moment faded quickly. "I don't want to meet her."

He was about to ask who she was talking about but caught himself before asking such a foolish question.

"If Richard had been anyone else's son I probably wouldn't care," she went on looking down at the bed.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you cared for her... a lot," she said unable to look Edward in the eye. "It's just... so… frustrating," she said shaking her head. "It was a long time ago and you've moved on but when you first told me about her I could tell she meant a lot to you at the time... and she goes and has your son and then she hides Richard from you! I just can't face her..."

"Elysia, you know I love - "

"Yes, I know," Elysia said looking up at him. "I don't doubt your feelings for me. There's really nothing you can do about this. It's something I have to get over on my own. I want Richard a part of your life; a part of our life together," she stressed, "and I don't want him to feel like he has to keep his families separate or afraid to even say her name in front of me," she closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm just jealous," she added her cheeks burning bright red as she began to pick at the bedspread. "I'm jealous she was the first person you ever fell in love with and I'm jealous she gave you a child too. I'm naïve and selfish; I wanted your heart all to myself and to be the only one to give you children. Before I found out about Richard she was easy to forget and I could feel like the only one who had your love."

"You still do," Edward said sincerely. "And you always will. You know what this is?"

"What?"

"Post traumatic stress."

Elysia smiled and stopped mutilating the bedspread. "Even if it can be explained with a medical condition, I still feel tied up in knots. I've tried not to feel what I do but I can't even convince myself to stop. It's like I want to make myself miserable over this."

"You're human and human beings are irrational. Trust me, I know," he said with a smirk. "I've always thought you were too sensible - and forgiving - for your own good. You should have given me more hell for sleeping around the way I did before we fell in love. You should have made me pay for nearly sleeping with Darla that time I returned from Xing and you should have put your foot down when I insisted we get married right away. I didn't want to wait but I would have."

"Well, I figured when you were shot you learned your lesson with Darla and I was just as impatient as you. I was young and hormonal," she said with a shrug looking up, a smile tugging at her lips.

Edward laughed and pulled her into a hug.

"Then you're not really upset with me for not making Roy step down?" He asked. "Because if you are I'll go to his car now and tell him to beat it. It wouldn't be too hard to throw him off the train. Olivier would happily help cover it up as long as she got to be Fuhrer."

Elysia shook her head. "No, and leave the poor man alone. I'm sure he has enough to deal with."

"I don't think so," Edward grunted.

"What Roy did was wrong but hat doesn't really bother me so much now. I'm too happy you're alright to even care how you should react after nearly dying. But what really hurts," she continued tears shining in her eyes, "is knowing that Envy used my mother's form when he killed my father. He wouldn't have hesitated and maybe he would have had a chance to save himself. I'm glad all the homunculi have been destroyed. Now, they won't ever be able to manipulate people again."

Edward held her against his chest, tight. He would have loved to have kept her safe from the horrors of the homunculi but it was too late now. The best he could do would be to provide comfort now that the worse was over.

He loosened his grip after a while and leaned in to kiss her but she stopped him. "Don't," she moaned wiping away fresh tears. "I'm too embarrassed and depressed."

"I like you embarrassed just as much as I like you fired up and angry. And if you let me, I can keep you from feeling too depressed," he added with a cocky grin as he gently guided her back down on the bed.

She sighed, exasperated. "I pour my heart and soul out and this is what you think I need? I swear that's all you can think about sometimes."

"Consider this part of your post traumatic stress therapy," he said as he started to nuzzle her neck, getting a giggle out of her. "Is it working?"

"A little," Elysia teased.

"I guess I have to try harder then."