September 18th, 1955

Edward was comfortably ensconced in the easy chair in the living room, with Coran and Reichart on either side of him as he read them a story. It was one of their favorites apparently, about two dogs having an adventure. It was a silly, amusing tale, but it kept their attention completely and that was the whole point. Cassie and Winry were making dinner and Aldon was in with a client looking at the blueprints for a new bridge for a town upriver.

The phone rang just as Aldon came back into the room. "I've got it," he called out, going over and picking up the phone as his client left. "Hello? Hey!" His tone picked up immediately. For a few moments the conversation was non-committal chit-chat and a lot of uh-huh. "Just a second, let me ask." Aldon covered the receiver with one hand as he turned around, smirking. "Any objections to another guest for Harvest? Ethan wants to invite a friend. Apparently she lives in South City and it's too far to go home."

"She?" Cassie asked from the kitchen, chuckling as she minced spices.

"Lia." Ed didn't even have to ask. Ethan had told them that she was at ECU – heck that had been the most excited he'd been about anything when he called.

Winry chuckled. "Well I think it's a fine idea."

"So do I," Ed grinned. Maybe there was hope yet for the kid!

Aldon nodded and went back to the conversation. "Hey, Ethan? Yeah, that's fine. We've got room and we'd be glad to have her."

When he hung up, Ed and Winry exchanged an amused glance. "I guess we'll get a pretty good first hand idea of how that's going in a couple of weeks," Winry smiled as she turned back to the stove.

They would indeed. After five years of devoted letters back and forth, Ed wondered where this reunion between childhood best friends would wind up.

September 20th, 1955

Sara, Franz, and Trisha arrived around mid-day Saturday, and it was clear when they arrived that the young family needed a vacation as much as Ed had suspected they did. Both Sara and Franz still worked full shifts at Headquarters, and Trisha spent most of her day time hours now over at Al's with Gracia. Ed's granddaughter was almost a year old and while he found her a delightful child, she was definitely a handful!

"Come to grandpa," Ed chuckled, taking the girl from Sara's arms and giving her a big hug when they came in the house.

"Amdady!" Trisha squealed.

Ed almost dropped her he was so startled. "She wasn't talking when we left," he looked over at Sara, who was grinning.

"She's trying to walk too," Sara informed him. "I know kids are supposed to pick up one or the other first, but she's been rather insistent on doing both. Though that makes a total of about four words."

"What are the other three?" Ed asked.

"Mama, Dada, and food," Sara smirked.

"Good choices, kiddo," Ed smiled down at the baby in his arms. Trisha looked up at him with big eyes that had gone a pale hazel green when they changed, framed by fast growing dark golden down that was well on its way to being hair, but seemed shorter because of the halo of curls that it became the longer it got.

While everyone got settled, Ed introduced Trisha to her cousins and kept an eye on them while the two boys played in the living room, actually rather intrigued by the unique event of meeting their little cousin, as well as having an infant girl around to play with.

They played until Trisha got sleepy and Franz claimed her for what was apparently the anytime-daddy-was-home afternoon nap tradition. He settled into the recliner with Trisha asleep on his shoulder.

Ed claimed the couch for his own afternoon rest, not really planning to nap, but he'd found that he made it through the day better now if he made himself sit still for a bit sometime in the afternoon, even on days when he didn't feel like he was actually doing a whole lot. With everyone else scattered – either upstairs getting beds set up, or outside playing or in Aldon's workshop – the living room was actually quiet. "She looks comfortable like that," he commented with a smile as he watched his granddaughter sleeping soundly.

"It took Gracia weeks to get her to nap lying down," Franz admitted with a quiet chuckle. "We've been doing this since she was born. I have to admit, I miss it most days as much as she does."

"I can see why," Ed nodded. "Sara liked her own space and she never much cared for the auto-mail, but Aldon used to spend hours crashed out on top of me if he had the choice."

Franz chortled. "Yeah, we've talked about me finding a way to work more out of the house, or maybe find a line of work that would allow for that. I'd like to be able to spend more time at home with her while she's little, and Sara's schedule just isn't as flexible. That and she's a little more attached to her work," he admitted.

Ed couldn't help a self-depreciating smirk. "You're making me look bad, you know."

Franz shrugged. "They could find someone else to do my job. It's a lot harder to replace a good State Alchemist, especially with Sara's talents… or yours," he added in response to Ed's statement.

"That's the truth. But what would you do instead?" Ed asked. He knew that Breda's office would definitely miss having him around if he did decide he was ever really done with the military.

Franz nodded. "I have plenty of marketable office skills. We've discussed a variety of options. There are businesses that could use me. Heck, your wife even suggested at one point that she wouldn't mind someone else to take over the books for Rockbell Auto-Mail," he added, grinning. "Though for now it's just talk. It may not come to anything."

Somehow, Ed wasn't surprised that Winry had offered. "Well anything would be good, especially if you can spend more time with this little doll. She really does look a lot like Sara, doesn't she?"

"It's funny," Franz said, "her hair started darker, but then it did that thing where it falls out after a few months and now it's coming in lighter."

"That happens sometimes." It was true. Trisha's hair had been much darker when she was born. Now it was only a shade or two darker than Ed's.

"Not that I mind. She's gorgeous," Franz chuckled, patting his sleeping daughter's back gently. Ed enjoyed watching Franz dote on his daughter; it reminded Ed of when Sara was a baby and the time he used to spend with her.

"You're lucky to have a girl. I'm still not sure how we managed to have Sara instead of all boys," he smiled. "Not that we really have any clue given how strange my father was, but given that he and Mom just had me and Al, I didn't figure we had a high chance of a girl. The Elric genes seem to favor boys by a long-shot." Him and Al, Aldon and Ethan, and now Aldon's two sons; Of course, Al had Will, but also Alyse too, so it was certainly possible for them to produce girls, just not the majority.

"She's a bit of a handful," Franz admitted. "What was Sara like as a baby?"

Ed smirked. "Would you believe perfectly well behaved?"

Franz rolled his eyes. "Not for a second."

"Well she was most of the time. She was a surprisingly well-mannered little kid, mostly because she was always sensible. She was never really fussy either. She didn't turn into a tomboy until I started teaching her alchemy."

Franz considered that. "So which of your kids was the troublemaker?"

"None of them really were," Ed shrugged. "Ethan was the one who got into things the most. He was climbing early and always into everything. Aldon just liked to take things apart." They had been relatively easy kids. "Things only really got complicated when they got older, and fortunately we never had to deal with anything disastrous." Ed smiled. "No I was the rambunctious kid, even when I was trying to be helpful I usually ended up causing more trouble." His mother had definitely had the patience of a saint!

Franz chuckled. "Then she may take after you. I've always been the quiet, bookish type. Mom always said I was reading almost before I was toilet trained."

"Why did you ever join the military?" Ed asked curiously. It was something he had never asked his son-in-law, oddly enough. Given the variety of reasons people joined, and his own, it was something he hadn't thought about in some time.

"To help people," Franz replied simply. "Even the military needs guys who are good with books and papers, and I always respected my Dad for what he did." His father had been a soldier and, Ed knew, had fought under him during the Drachman border dispute.

"That's true," Ed smiled. "If it were left up to folks like Roy Mustang the military would be a lot more disorganized." Nothing would ever get done!

"I've heard stories," Franz said. "Much as I respect the Flame Alchemist, I'm glad to be working in Breda's office."

"They've got very different styles of leading," Ed said, "But both of them have been good at the job. I don't know what we'll do when Breda decides he's done with it."

"Maybe they'll offer it to you," Franz grinned broadly. He knew as well as anyone else how little Ed wanted that particular position!

"Not in a million years," Ed snorted. "They know better than to even suggest it. They'd do better to offer it to Alphonse. He'd make a good leader." Besides, in his current condition, he couldn't guarantee how long he'd survive in the job. That was the cheerful thought that followed him as he dozed off for a real mid-afternoon nap.

October 7th, 1955

While Lia was used to Ethan getting wrapped up in his studies, she was also used to him being where he said he would be when he said he would be. So she was concerned when he didn't meet her in the dining hall for dinner like he usually did. Of course, given that tomorrow started mid-term week, she suspected that for once Ethan really had entirely forgotten about food and meeting up with her. So she headed upstairs to drag him out of his room for a break.

At this point she was such a common sight in Arc house that none of the guys tried to stop her as she went up to Ethan's floor. In fact, Colt and Lance looked relieved to see her. "We haven't seen him since yesterday," Lance admitted. "Can't get a response today at all and I haven't even seen him come out to use the restroom."

"I'll see what I can do," Lia replied, heading over to Ethan's door and knocking. "Ethan? Are you in there?" For the first time ever, she got no response out of him. Normally her presence at least elicited a 'come in.' Lia tried the door and, finding it unlocked, she dared to open it.

Ethan was sitting at his desk, the lamp on as well as the overhead for better reading, and a pile of books and notes spread out in front of him. This, she had expected. What she hadn't expected was that he looked like he had passed out on them.

"Ethan?" Lia gently shook his shoulder with one hand.

He jerked and sat up suddenly, blinking in the light and sneezing. "Huh? Oh…Lia?" He sounded stuffed up. He looked at her blearily then seemed to come to. "What time is it?"

"Seven fifteen," Lia replied with some amusement. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Ethan nodded, but he didn't really look fine. "I guess I dozed off."

"How long ago?" Lia asked.

"Maybe an hour," Ethan sighed. "I've got to get through this though." He turned back to his notes.

"When was the last time you ate?" Lia asked, pressing the point.

Ethan paused again. "Ummm…breakfast," He admitted sheepishly.

Lia shook her head and held a hand up to his forehead. Given how he looked, she was unsurprised to find that he felt distinctly warm. "And how long have you been sick?"

Ethan averted his eyes. "Since this morning."

Lia sighed. "Well you won't be doing any more studying right now. I'm sure you haven't seen a doctor so I want you to lie down." She walked over to Ethan's dresser and dug into the top drawer. As she had expected, Ethan's mother had stocked the room well. There was a thermometer, not to mention an entire first aid kit. She pulled the thermometer out. Ethan still hadn't moved from the chair. He sat there looking a little dazed. "Bed," she repeated firmly. "You're exhausted and sick."

Only when Ethan had kicked off his shoes and lay down did Lia bother checking his temperature. As soon as she had the result, she was glad she had pushed her way in. "I can't believe you were studying with a hundred and one temp," she sighed. "That's it. I don't want you anywhere near a book until this breaks."

"But I have two tests tomorrow!" Ethan objected, starting to sit up again.

"Which you won't be in any shape to take if you don't get some rest," Lia pushed him back down easily. It took almost no force at all. "Stay in bed. I'm going to get you something to eat and drink and I want you to get some sleep."

Looking slightly bemused, Ethan nodded agreeably and didn't try to get up again.

By the time Lia got back almost half an hour later, Ethan had dozed off again, though apparently not deeply. He opened his eyes as she closed the door and shoved a few books out of the way to make room for a tray on the desk. She had borrowed a tray from the dining hall and brought him hot tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. It was what they had available. She watched him as he ate both down and then drank two glasses of water from the pitcher she had brought as well. Then she wet a cloth and folded it on his forehead. Immediately he seemed to feel relief.

Ethan smiled tiredly and closed his eyes. "Thanks."

"Well someone has to mother you," Lia chuckled softly, though she felt a little flushed herself, and not from fever. "You're not very good at taking care of yourself."

"They do say doctors make the worst patients," Ethan chuckled.

"Well it would be nice if you at least would prove them wrong," Lia tucked him in then stood up reluctantly. "I'll be back in a little bit. Rest now."

She needn't have worried; by the time she returned the tray, refilled the pitcher, and returned Ethan was deeply asleep.

October 8th, 1955

Ethan couldn't have said how long he slept, or how often he woke, but every time he stirred during the night he felt Lia adjusting the cloth on his head, making sure it was still cool. One or twice he thought he heard her humming. It was a sweet, soothing sound that followed him into his dreams, and invaded what would otherwise have turned to fevered nightmares.

When he woke in the morning he was alone, but there was a fresh covered tray on the table covering a hearty breakfast of oatmeal with sugar, eggs, bacon, and a tall glass of orange juice. There was also a note in a familiar flowing hand.

I had to go to my eight-thirty class midterm. I know your first one isn't until noon. Eat everything and rest. I'll be back after my test. Congratulations, your temperature was normal by five this morning. ~Lia

Five? So she had stayed the entire night taking care of him? Ethan blushed at the thought. Not so much that he minded her company, but what would the guys in the house think?! He looked at the clock. It was a little after nine, so Lia wouldn't be back immediately. He felt sticky from sweat, but also ravenous. Willingly he followed her suggestion that he clear his plate, and then he headed down the hall to the communal bathroom. He really wanted a shower.

"Look who's alive," Colt smirked as he looked up from the sink where he was shaving. "Barely," he amended.

"Very funny," Ethan retorted, though when he caught a glance of himself in the mirror he couldn't really argue the point. His braided hair was a tangled mess and he looked a little pale, with dark circles under his eyes. Well, a shower should definitely help! He took a long one, enjoying the refreshing feeling of hot water and soap. Then he combed his hair out and pulled it back again, brushed his teeth, and headed back to his room feeling a lot more human. His head still felt stuffed up with what seemed to be a bad cold, but it was a lot better than the feverish haze in which he had spent the day before and most of the night.

He was glad he had pulled on shorts and a t-shirt before walking back to his room, because Lia was waiting when he got there. "You look better," she smiled approvingly.

Ethan shrugged, trying not to feel too self-conscious. "I feel a lot better. Thanks for, well….everything."

"You're a lot of trouble sometimes," Lia chuckled softly, though Ethan wasn't sure why she seemed amused. "That sounds like it's still a pretty bad cold." She held up a small box. "I brought you some tissues. I noticed you didn't have any."

She was right. That was something he hadn't thought to grab. He rarely had the need for them most of the time. "Are you for real?" he asked as he took the box.

Lia's brow creased slightly. "What do you mean?"

Crud. Well that didn't come out right! "I mean you're just really nice, you know? There aren't a lot of people around here that would sit up all night and lose sleep like you did, just to take care of someone else. Especially not in the…well the wrong dorm." It was just too embarrassing to even suggest what he had thought earlier about her being in his room all night!
Lia's pink cheeks told him she got the message. She shrugged though. "Colt and Lance know better, so does Will. It's not like it wasn't pretty obvious with all the running and fetching. Someone had to nurse you, and better me than one of these guys. Did you know Lance actually suggested just dosing you with tea and rum?"

Lance and Colt both knew full well that Ethan didn't drink, though he hadn't made a big deal out of it. Ethan shuddered. "Looks like I owe you a lot more thanks."

Lia shrugged. "I'm sure we can find a way for you to make it up to me if you feel you have to," she chuckled. "For now you can start by taking better care of yourself. You will eat and drink properly and get plenty of rest this week. Is that understood?"

For a brief moment, Lia reminded Ethan an awful lot of his mother. It wasn't an unpleasant comparison. He smiled. "Yes ma'am."

October 14th, 1955

Alphonse and the rest of the Central family arrived on the tenth of the month. The house got even more crowded, but no one minded. Al, Elicia, and Alyse all came but, perhaps most notably; Gracia accepted their invitation to join them at both Alphonse and Edward's insistence that she was definitely a part of the family!

Four days later, Will, Ethan, and Lia arrived in Resembool, and the old Rockbell house was the fullest it had ever been, which made for some interesting sleeping arrangements! Fortunately those had all been worked out in advance. While Aldon and Cassie got to keep their claim to the master bedroom, they moved both of the boys in with them, giving Sara, Franz, and Trisha the use of the boys' room. Edward and Winry had their usual guest bed in what used to be Winry's room. Alphonse and Elicia claimed one of the other small upstairs bedrooms, and Gracia, Alyse, and Lia all shared the largest upstairs room. Will and Ethan got the spare room downstairs.

Edward didn't blame Lia for being a little shy at first. She had been invited to a couple of the large parties over at the Elrics' house as a friend of Ethan's, but she had been twelve then. Well she certainly wasn't twelve now! Ed couldn't imagine at first sight how there was any way his son couldn't still be interested in the girl. After watching them for more than two seconds he was convinced that Ethan most definitely was, Lia was definitely interested in his son, and neither of them had said a word about it to each other! The girl was definitely not the scrawny little tomboy that had spent countless afternoons in Ed's house. She was taller, about Winry's height, with hair a shade darker golden yellow, lighter blue eyes, and a figure that – academically speaking of course – Ed was sure turned heads.

She definitely turned Ethan's. Ed noticed that his son always seemed aware of where she was even when they weren't directly interacting. Though Ethan looked tired too. "It's just a cold, Mom," Ethan assured Winry as they hugged at the door of the house. "I'm mostly over it."

"Well you better rest up and get over it completely," she scolded gently.

Will smirked as he pushed past to get the hug Elicia was offering her own son. "Don't worry about him, he was well taken care of," he wrapped his arms around his mother. Ed noticed a brief flush on Lia's cheeks.

"I wish I could say the same about you," Elicia chuckled, squeezing back. She stepped back and took a look at him. "You look like a stray sheepdog." One hand gestured at his hair and she shook her head as she looked him up and down. He did need a trim and his goatee was fuller than before. "I thought you said you were working out this semester?"

"Oh, Mom," Will groaned and rolled his eyes, though he was still smiling. "Please don't start."

"At least let me get my hug in first," Alphonse laughed.

When everyone was done with the obligatory pile of family hugs they all settled down. Luggage was stashed, food preparations went on for dinner, and everyone started catching up on news. Ethan and Will, being the most recent arrivals, got most of the questions. Lia seemed more comfortable volunteering to help with the food. Ed enjoyed watching the happy chaos that always accompanied getting them all together in one place.

He was as surprised and pleased as Al when Will's response to the inevitable girlfriend question was met with a broad grin and a photograph coming out of his pocket.

Elicia got to it first and looked momentarily startled. "She's Xingese?"

Will nodded and shrugged, but his expression grew concerned. "Yeah. Is that a problem?"

"Well, no, of course not," Elicia replied, smiling again a second later. "You just usually seem to prefer blondes. I'm surprised."

"Ren's special," Will chuckled.

Ed froze and glanced over at Al who was looking back at him sideways too. Apparently they both had the same thought. Xingese… Ren? Ethan's smirk just confirmed their suspicions.

"Wait…Ren as in Renxiang Xian?" Al turned back to Will.

"That would be her," Will grinned smugly.

Ed and Al weren't the only ones who recognized the name. Winry's face lit up in recognition. "Emperor Mao's sister!"

Apparently Alyse recognized the last name at the minimum. "An Emperor's sister is dating my brother?" She chuckled. "I'm not sure if I should say congratulations or be concerned about her sanity."

"I remember Renxiang having impeccable taste," Al chuckled as he took a look at the photo. "She's even lovelier than she was at sixteen too."

Ed glanced around Al at the image. Indeed. Ren looked even more like her mother, elegantly beautiful in the way of Xing women, though it was a little odd to see her in –admittedly quite tasteful- current Amestrian fashions. Ed certainly couldn't fault his nephew's taste! "Classy," he kept to a safe comment.

It was rather amusing to get updates on Ren from Will instead of Ethan, who Ed was sure probably still talked alchemy extensively with her now that they had met up again, but Will was more than smitten, and was quite happy to wax eloquent on Ren's charms, talents, alchemical abilities, studies, looks, and anything else anyone felt like hearing about.

"She's still Ren," was Ethan's statement on the subject a little later when Ed asked out of curiosity. "Though I had no idea just how explosively they'd take to each other when I introduced them."

"So she feels the same way?" Ed asked. The last thing he wanted was to see two kids he was fond of hurt.

Ethan nodded vehemently. "Definitely mutual. They're practically inseparable lately. The only reason Ren didn't come with us too is she insisted she needed to work on her research due when we get back, or I know Will would have argued for having her come."

"She'd have been welcome," Ed shrugged. After all, they had approved Lia, and she wasn't even actually dating Ethan. He and Al both knew Ren. The Xian family was friends as well as allies.

"Yeah, I told her that too," Ethan grinned. "But I think now that she and Will are a thing, she doesn't want to seem too forward."

"Xing propriety I guess," Ed chuckled. "Well maybe she'll be more amiable to a visit when it's not meant to be a family gathering, or get used to the idea."

"I know Will's trying to get her to come to Central over the winter break." Ethan seemed to be enjoying the odd position of having successfully played match maker, especially since it was between his cousin and a friend. "It's longer, but still too short for her to go back to Xing."

"I take it you're for that too," Ed pressed when Ethan suddenly paused.

"Yeah," Ethan nodded, though his expression changed from a lighthearted grin to something a little more thoughtful. "Actually, I thought that… at least maybe she might be able to help."

"Help?" Ed got the feeling he had missed something.

Now Ethan just looked uneasy. "I mean, for all my study so far, there's only so much I can do to help a person with alchemy directly, but Ren's training is also in medicine and she's been studying medical alchemy for longer and in more depth than even I have. I was thinking, maybe, she might be able to do something for you."

Ed paused. That thought hadn't even occurred to him! Though he was pretty sure if that kind level of healing could be done with alchemy, someone would have brought it up by now as even a remote possibility. Or…would they? None of the Amestrian alchemists, even the alchemical doctors, had much in the way of Xing style training. The regular doctors certainly had no methods or realistic way of improving the situation beyond what they had already recommended. "That's…. not a bad idea," he finally replied. Not that he dared to get his hopes up, but it was something. "Actually it's a very good idea if she'll come."

"I bet if I asked she'd come to Central for sure," Ethan's smile returned. "Then Will will owe me for more than just introducing them."

Ed was glad the serious moment had passed. He smiled. "At this rate, he's going to owe you for the rest of his life."

Ethan smirked. "You won't hear me complaining!"