March 15th, 1963

Dawn came foggy, with a chill in the air that left everything damp in minutes. Not that it mattered to the sun that couldn't reach through the mist. The military trains in the station stood ready to go; loading having begun late the night before. The last thing on board was the men. All up and down the platforms, soldiers – mostly ranking staff and alchemists on this trip – said goodbye to loved ones.

One spot on the platform was, Edward wasn't surprised, particularly crowded, and that was the one right around him, where nearly every member of the Elric family had turned out because they were either leaving or there to say goodbyes and give last heartfelt hugs and kisses. It was a small mass of beloved chaos that made him feel like he might lose control of his emotions right there on the platform as he hugged everyone who was staying behind. It was a strange goodbye, given he, Al, Winry, all three of his grown kids, Will, and Franz, were getting on the train. Tore was there too, on the peripheral. Ed kept his arm around Winry as they said goodbye to Elicia, Gracia, Alyse, and the little ones.

"It feels weird not to be leaving you and the kids behind," he admitted to Winry when the group goodbye was over and couples had split off for their own personal final words. "Good…but weird."

Winry smiled and leaned against his side. "Well could you really expect any differently from kids we raised?"

Ed couldn't help it; he laughed. It was strained, perhaps a need for relief of other emotions, but it would do for now. "No, I couldn't." Not from anyone in their family. And that, he thought, was why Drachma didn't stand a chance.

"Come home safe," Elicia whispered in Alphonse's ear as she hugged him tightly.

Al nodded, holding her close against him. "I will," he promised. He refused to break a promise, and that was one he would keep. He would not consider otherwise. This was a mission he would not fail. "They'll regret every coming anywhere near Amestris… or you."

Elicia shuddered in his arms. "Just don't get yourself killed. It's not worth revenge, or justice, if I lose you."

She knew why he was really going, aside from the usual good reasons. "Yes ma'am," he smiled teasingly, hoping she didn't realize just what she was asking of him. Al had no intention of dying, but nor did he have any intention of letting Tamirov leave Amestris alive. The nightmares would end. The memories would finally be able to fade. Elicia would be safe, and finally, Al would stop feeling like he had failed his wife.

Nearby a similar scene played out with Alphonse's son.

"I'll come back to you, I promise," Will whispered, cradling Ren close. "I'll be home for the baby."

Ren surprised him as she straightened up, looking up at him with a sadly accepting expression. She shook her head. "Don't make that promise, Will. I have a feeling that this won't be a short war. You have duties you've taken on; duties to country that must come before family."

The Imperial princess would say that, wouldn't she? "Well I'll try then," he amended regretfully, his hand resting gently on the subtle swell of her stomach. "I hate leaving you alone right now."

"Mommy's not alone!" Minxia replied, tugging firmly on his pants leg. When Will looked down she had a stubborn pout on her adorable little face.

Will couldn't help chuckling. He let go of Ren and picked up his daughter, giving her a big hug. "You're right of course," he kissed her cheek. "You take care of Mommy all right? She's going to need your help around the house."

Minxia giggled and kissed him back. "I'm a big girl. I can handle it," she grinned, before her expression turned more serious. "You'll be okay, right Daddy?"

"Of course I will," Will assured her. "We'll go teach these guys a lesson in playing nice and then I'll be home again."

"You go tell them to be nice," Minxia smiled and wrapped her little arms around his neck.

Will fought the tears in his eyes as he gave her another squeeze before putting his daughter down. "I'll make sure to let them know." He gave Ren one more kiss before he picked up his bag and forced himself to head for the train. He wasn't used to being anywhere without Ren anymore. It seemed wrong to be going off without her. But then, he reminded himself, this wasn't an adventure. This was a war, and war was business. All he could do was make sure it never came anywhere near his family.

Ethan was beginning to wonder if Lia would let go of him; or if he would be able to let go of her. He remained tightly in a warm embrace, kissing her passionately until breathing became an absolute necessity.

"When you get back I'm locking the bedroom door and never letting you out," Lia commented as she stepped back reluctantly.

"It would be pretty hard for us to make a living if we never left the bedroom," Ethan grinned, "Not that I'm entirely opposed to the idea."

"Well all right, but just as long as it takes to get results," Lia kissed him again, slower and more tenderly this time.

Ethan's fingers tangled loosely with her hair. "Deal."

Lia smiled sadly. "You make sure you rest, okay? Get enough to eat. Keep on warm, dry socks."

"Practicing mothering already?" Ethan smirked back. "I'll take care of myself, I promise. Believe it or not I really don't want to get really sick again, probably more than you don't want me to."

"Never underestimate a woman's protective instincts," Lia countered. "Be safe, be careful, and do what you do best. I know a lot of people are going to be grateful you're there to take care of them."

Ethan nodded. That was why he was going. "I'll make sure they know they have you to thank."

"Me?" Lia looked confused. "What for?"

Ethan hugged her just one last time. "For sharing me."

Tore swallowed his pride. He might not have another chance. As he watched General Breda walk away from his family, he screwed up his nerve and walked in their direction. He was halfway there through the crowd when they turned to leave. Damn it! "Charisa, wait!" She froze and turned around. Feeling momentary relief, Tore caught up.

She looked lovely this morning, in a knee-length sage green skirt and a cream colored blouse. Her long red hair was down, the misty weather making it curl a little more along the edges. She turned briefly when her mother said something Tore couldn't hear with the ambient noise, then she waited as Mrs. Breda and Niam kept walking.

Tore came to a stop just a few feet from her, and there his tongue failed him. He looked at her for several seconds, simply drinking in the sight of her.

Charisa shifted from one foot to the other, then sighed and stepped forward. "Don't get yourself killed, all right?"

That shook Tore out of his momentary reverie. "Well I wasn't planning to," he replied, feeling oddly disgruntled. "Is… is that all you've got to say to me?"

"Were you expecting more?" She asked. It wasn't a mean tone, but she looked like she was surprised he really had. "Expecting me to fall into your arms, cry, and confess my undying love maybe?" Her tone was calm, not mocking.

"All right," Tore scowled. "Enough, I get the picture. I just… I couldn't leave without talking to you."

"In case we never see each other again?"

Tore just nodded. That was exactly what he was afraid of. Their friendship was still a little cool, a little distant. What romance there had been seemed dead as a rat in a trap.

Charisa's expression softened. "So make sure you come back, so we can talk some more." She stepped forward and opened her arms just a little. "You want a hug or not?"

Tore blinked, then jerked forward, giving her a hug that was momentarily awkward, then friendlier, though he couldn't help it tightening into a squeeze before he let go. "I'll see you again."

"You'd better." Charisa replied, looking slightly startled by the strength of his hug. "If you make me worry about you I'll never forgive you." Then her own grip tightened a bit more.

Tore couldn't help smiling just a little as he stepped back. The train whistle was blowing a five minute warning. "Careful, Miss Breda, people might think you care."

Charisa shook her head. "Don't turn into an ass out there either," she countered with a brief half-smile. "The last time you went away I barely recognized you when you came back." She hesitated. "Don't change on me anymore, okay? I mean…"

She really did still care. Then why the cold shoulder half the time? Tore's smile softened. "Knock them dead in Creta, Charisa. Show them what the best Amestris has to offer can do. You do what you need to, I'll do what I need to. I'll see you when it's over." Then he turned before he said anything else he might regret, leaving her looking stunned on the platform. His stomach flipped. Don't read too much into it, Closson. Just be grateful she's still a friend. Still, maybe after the war, maybe there was hope.

Cal Fischer felt more than a little lonely as he watched everyone around him hugging their friends and family goodbye. Most everyone he was friends with was getting on the train. Those goodbyes would be said when the units split up, and they wouldn't be heartfelt and full of hugs.

He'd called his mother last night. She had thanked him for the recent check and, as she had every day since he'd sent the first one, assured him she was fine on her own but she loved him for thinking of her. Cal knew better. His mother would never have made it on her own. His father's death had been all that saved her from an early grave. At least, that was Cal's firm conviction. She was weak, often ill, and it had taken over a decade before she was willing to say even a single word against the man who had abused her even before they were wed.
The families on the platform were so different from his own; he couldn't help but feel envious. It was an emotion he had gotten used to. He saw the Mustangs a dozen yards down the line; Flame, Firebrand and – to his surprise – Riza Mustang all had travel bags. Elena and the three children were giving them all hugs.

The Bredas had already said their goodbyes and the General vanished. Cal smirked briefly as he saw what he bet was an interesting exchange between Tore and Charisa Breda. He'd heard they were friends – formerly dating. What he wouldn't have given to be a bug on them somewhere.

The Elrics were impossible to miss. Sara and Franz were giving their children multiple goodbye hugs. The kids looked concerned. Will's daughter less so; but then her mother was staying. They were a big mob of hugs, kisses, and backslaps. Cal had been a bit surprised when he found out Aldon and Ethan were both coming. Aldon especially. Mrs. Elric seemed to be a more logical choice to him, oddly enough, than Sara's peace-loving middle brother. Ethan, at least, was an alchemist and a doctor.

She was halfway between the Elrics and himself when Cal realized that Alyse had detached herself from her family and was crossing the rapidly emptying platform. The train was whistling its warning. He didn't have much time. But he watched her cross the distance, eyes fixed on him so he knew he could not pretend he wasn't her goal.

Alyse stopped at a polite distance. Close, but not intimate. "Take care of yourself, Cal," she offered him a sad, friendly smile. "Not that I really expect you to, but it would be nice."

A lopsided smile crossed Cal's face. "Not much confidence in me, huh?"

"Not much evidence to the contrary," Alyse replied, looking up at him. He could see her green eyes under those long, dark lashes. "You're a good friend and… well now that we're actually talking I'd hate to see you on the casualties list. So take care."

Cal's smile didn't fade. "That an order?" He liked being on speaking terms with Alyse, however awkward it felt a lot of the time. She was a lot easier to be around now… though he wasn't sure if that was cause for relief or concern. Her enjoyment of jazz, and other things he had never thought she might enjoy that he did happen to, helped.

"If that's what it takes," Alyse chuckled with some amusement, though it seemed subdued. Her expression sobered. "I… it feels so strange to be left behind."

That wasn't what he'd expected. "Your alchemical talents aren't combative," he replied, hoping she wasn't offended. "Besides, you offer something just as important as the rest of us."

"Oh? What's that?"

"You give us something to look forward to when we get back," Cal grinned.

He was rewarded with a startled expression and then another smile. "I'll have to make sure it's quite the homecoming party."

Perhaps it was better she seemed to have missed the unintentional double entendre. Cal kept smiling. "I look forward to it. Frankly, as long as I come home with all three of my remaining limbs I'll consider this war better than the last one."

Maybe that had been the wrong thing to say. Worry flickered across Alyse's face; the smile vanished. "Don't joke, Cal."

"Sorry," he apologized. "Morbid sense of humor."

"It's all right, I'm used to it." She looked like she wanted to say something else, but after a few moments he knew she wasn't going to.

"I should go," Cal hefted his rucksack over his shoulder and gave her a jaunty salute. "Keep a spot open for me at the table at the club, kiddo." He turned to go –
-Only to feel something slam into his back, arms wrapped around his chest! Cal froze. "I…I will," Alyse replied softly. "You owe me a drink when you get back though."

Cal smiled, wishing he could see her face. He could feel it pressed against his back; her face, her arms…her chest. She felt warm. "You got it."

Alyse let go then, and when Cal turned around she was walking briskly back towards her family, who didn't seem to have noticed her brief absence in the press of things. Those leaving were already on the train.

The last warning whistle sounded and Cal hurried to the steps! A thought jolted him as he stepped onto the train. She didn't call me Calvin.

"Are you all right?" Nancy Breda asked her daughter as Charisa got into the front seat and buckled in. "What did Terrence have to say?"

Charisa didn't seem to hear her for a moment. Then she shook herself slightly and looked at Nancy. "He just wanted to say goodbye and wish me good luck at the University in the fall."

"Oh is that all?" Nancy didn't try and hint at anything, but if she knew the boy, that was hardly everything.

"Yes, Mom, that was all," Charisa replied, looking slightly irritated. "All we did was say goodbye and good luck. I don't want him to die out there, no matter what he did before."

"Did I ask?" Nancy smiled, but let the subject drop. No, she was fairly certain her daughter really didn't have anything more than maybe a passing interest in dating her childhood friend again, if that. Heymans would certainly be happy if she didn't. "No one wants to see anyone die in this war."

"I don't like Dad going off on his own," Charisa admitted.

"He's hardly alone," Nancy assured her daughter. So mature, it was hard to remember sometimes that Charisa wasn't an adult already. "He has his entire staff to look after him. You know Falman and Feury especially will take care of him."

Charisa smiled weakly. "When you say it that way it sounds more like they'll be having a party at every opportunity."

"Oh Sciezka and Marina will be writing to scold at every opportunity I'm sure," Nancy replied. "Though the truth is I'm nervous too. I barely slept during the Xing War, and we weren't even married then. I was so relieved he couldn't go to Aerugo."

"But Dad came home from the Xing War fine right?" Niam asked, not sounding particularly concerned. Nancy knew he was, but Niam rarely showed it. He was more practical about things he couldn't do anything about, and too young to be allowed to enlist – a fact that Nancy was eternally grateful for!

Nancy nodded. "Oh he was just fine. Almost in better condition than when he left," she admitted with a small chuckle. It had been such a short time, in retrospect, though it had felt like forever.

Next to her, Charisa seemed to relax. "I'm glad. I still feel guilty leaving for Creta before everyone's home, if it happens that way. It doesn't seem right."

"It's what your father wants, and I'm sure it's what your friends would tell you to do too," Nancy added, knowing that was the case with some of them already. "We aren't all fighters, sweetheart. Still, in the end it's your choice."

"I know," Charisa sighed. "That's what makes it so difficult."

Given how normally decisive Charisa was, it was a sure sign of how hard this was on her. Nancy let it be for a while, and no one else spoke up. Nancy was sure Charisa would end up going. Common sense had always been one of her daughter's strongest traits. Charisa wanted to study law and get involved with the government. She would see that through no matter what.

Nancy just hoped that in the end Heymans would still be with them to see her graduate.

"You look lonely," Edward commented to Aldon when he found his son standing alone in the observation car once he and Winry had gotten their things stowed. Ed loved rank; it got them a private berth.

Aldon smiled. "It would have been nice to give the kids and Cassie another goodbye. I called her last night, but it's not the same."

"It isn't," Ed agreed. "So, you ready for this?"

"Not a bit," Aldon admitted without hesitation. "But then, I'm not a soldier am I? But I've got to help, and I've got to know if any of our friends made it out of Briggs. Ollie and Kit were still living in the Fort, and other friends of ours. They could be dead, or captured, or hiding out in the bowls of Briggs. You could hide people down in the depths for months if you had to." A few were already reported to be doing just that.

Ed nodded, sympathetic to his son's plight. Ollie had been his best friend for years and he knew they still talked regularly. "Intelligence will hear something eventually. Anyone else hiding out at Briggs will have the wherewithal to get out, or manage to send a message." If anything else, he knew that about the men and woman who populated Briggs. They were a hearty lot; tough to beat, and tougher to keep down for long.

Aldon nodded. "You're right. Ollie knows that place almost as well as he knows his wife."

"A terrifying prospect," Ed couldn't help smirking. Still, it seemed an apt description. It definitely made the point. "So you think their chances are good?"

"I think Ollie wouldn't let anything happen to Kit or the kids," Aldon replied. "I've never been so grateful that Resembool is so far away from the north."

Ed nodded. Cassie and the boys would be safe there for a good long time. "There's no place safer and more remote save even more obscure towns," he agreed. "Do you know where Breda's got your unit stationed to start?"

Aldon nodded. "Well, as engineers we're going to be critical in building the initial barriers, but then we'll be pulled back immediately to let the soldiers and the alchemists do their thing."

"Hiding behind us?" Ed looked at his son skeptically, then grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. "Good. That's exactly where I want you."

Aldon chuckled. "Grabbing the glory for yourself, Dad?"

Ed shook his head. "Something much more important; making sure my grandsons still have a father when this is over."

For a moment, Aldon looked slightly pale, and Ed got a much better idea of just how unsure of his position Aldon was. This was a big leap. The last war, he'd been safe in Resembool with Cassie and Coran, Reichart just on the way and then a baby. Now he had a lot more to protect, and a lot more to lose.

Ed smiled reassuringly. "You'll be fine."

"Right," Aldon nodded. "Sure. We all will." He took a deep breath. "I think I'm going to go find Sara and Ethan. They were saying something about breakfast and a game of cards."

"Sounds good," Ed smiled. "I should check in with Breda." He moved on down the car towards the end. The command car was another two down the line. He paused at the end and turned. Aldon was still staring out the window, one hand fiddling absently with the wedding band on his finger. Yeah, it was tough.

Winry, Sara, Aldon, and Ethan. All of us on this mission. Al, Will, Franz. It seems like an unbeatable team when you add in the rest of us. It still seemed surreal that after so long he was going back to war with Roy, Armstrong, Breda, Falman, and Feury too. No matter what it takes; I'll do whatever I have to to make sure we all come back, and have a home to come back to.

March 18th, 1963

The trip felt kind of surreal, Tore thought, as he watched the land roll past for the first two days. They had been in such a flurry of action in Central; training, packing, getting ready to go. Yet it was still four days by train to North City, six if they could have pushed all the way to Briggs. Tore remembered the trip to Petrayevka, though it seemed a lifetime ago. He wasn't the same kid who had gone with the Elrics on that diplomatic mission. He was a better alchemist now, a better fighter. He had experience with surviving on his own in the wilds as well as the cities.

Now, he was a State Alchemist. That had to mean something too. Though this was not in a million years how he had expected to make his next trip northward. "Some first out of town assignment," he muttered to himself.

"A real humdinger all right," the Whitewater Alchemist chuckled as he dropped down next to him on the seat. "Gotta love the scenery, don't you? Nothing but dead trees and rolling rock hills as far as the eye can see, and we haven't even hit the real foothills yet."

"Thrilling," Tore snickered. "What do you do for fun on these trips once the scenery bores you to tears?"

"Soldiers? Well, drink, swear, play cards," Fischer replied flippantly. "At least when the brass won't bitch about it," he added with a wink. "Gossip and pick on each other comes next."

"I'm loving the military already," Tore retorted, but he grinned anyway. "It sounds like high school."

"Except there's not enough hot girls," Fischer replied with a regretful sigh. "Speaking of,

you were looking pretty cozy with Charisa Breda before we left," he grinned. "I hear you two used to be a hot item."

"You heard right; used to be," Tore replied with a shrug. "We went out for a few months until I headed out on my own for a while. I asked her to come with me; she refused. I'm lucky she's talking to me now." At least that last goodbye had made him feel that all his hard work making it up to her hadn't gone unnoticed. Charisa still cared, even if she was more guarded. And that last was really his fault.

Fischer winced. "Sounds painfully familiar. Still there must be something there to be worth keeping up the friendship."

"We were best friends for five years. I'd say it's worth it," Tore sniped. "So, turnabout; I noticed you were looking pretty cozy with Alyse Elric at the train station."

He had caught Cal Fischer off guard; a rare feat. He looked momentarily nonplused. "She's a friend."

"An ex-girlfriend," Tore countered. Hey, Cal had been getting on to him about Charisa, it was a fair comeback. "Or so I hear. Though she seems more interested in you than Charisa is in me."

He watched Fischer's face, but saw none of the subtle play of emotions he got off most people even when they tried to hide their emotions. No, Cal's face went dead still. "Good girls aren't my type," he finally responded. Then he seemed to return to life, shrugging and leaning back. "I prefer women with experience. They're more fitting for a man of the world," he smirked as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Tore thought back to the conversation with Lilah, and the little demonstration of what experience could do. Still… he shrugged again. "I wouldn't know."

Cal almost choked on the cigarette he had just put to his mouth. "Geez man, all that time on your own. Don't tell me you-"

"Really would rather not have it blathered all over the train," Tore cut him off with a sharp look.

Cal shook himself, took a drag, exhaled, and nodded. "Right, of course. That's really not something you want everyone around here to know though. Not if you want any respect from the grunts. Most of the alchemists won't care."

A plus to being an alchemist, Tore supposed. "I'm seventeen, what are they expecting?"

"What they were all doing at seventeen probably," Cal said matter-of-factly. "Just don't tell me you've never had a drink either."

"Oh no worries on that one," Tore smirked. "If it wouldn't get me in trouble I'd demonstrate that in a heartbeat." The one thing he missed from his travels was being able to just walk in somewhere and order a beer. He didn't want to get drop-down drunk, but he missed the freedom to just have a drink when he felt like it. "Give me a few weeks." He was almost eighteen for real. Then he'd be free to do things the way he liked; within the limits of what the military would accept. He was good with that though.

"Oh I'll definitely make sure we have a hell of a bash for your birthday," Cal laughed. "I bet it'll be interesting."

"Put that thing out or move to the back, Whitewater," Lyssandra Fines stepped into the car, looked around, and glowered.

Cal looked utterly un-contrite as he nodded. "Yes ma'am." He stood up. "Care to continue this little chat somewhere else?"

"No thanks," Tore shook his head. He really didn't feel like having his lack of a love life dissected anymore at the moment, not even by someone he was quickly coming to like hanging out with. The more he learned about Fischer, the more he realized they had in common. It helped that the older alchemist didn't really treat him like a kid; more like a younger colleague or brother. He could live with that.

"Suit yourself," Cal sauntered down the car. There was an open area between it and the baggage cars that took up a good chunk of the back of the train; hauling military supplies mostly. It had rails, and Tore had seen more than a few soldiers come in and out from smoking. It was the only place on the train they wouldn't get yelled at for it since it was too chilly to comfortably open windows.

Tore looked back out the window, considering all he had just heard. Despite the joking manner, Cal Fischer had just given him a lot of insight into military life outside of Central Headquarters. He would be wise to keep those perspectives in mind.

March 20th, 1963

In a couple of hours they would be in North City. From what they had been told, they would reach it barely a day ahead of the retreating Amestrians fleeing the Drachmans pushing southward. That left very little time to set up a full defensive line. North City denizens were being evacuated, but other than pregnant women, the elderly or infirm, and small children, most everyone else had refused to leave. Or so Ed heard. They had no intention of leaving their homes to the Drachmans!

Still, it would be difficult to stop the rolling Drachman army. Daily reports made it clear that Drachma was putting everything it had into the invasion. Hundreds of thousands of troops poured into Briggs, filling every spare space to bursting. Surviving Amestrians inside were prisoners of war, or gone into hiding. The top military rankers were all dead. There had been no attempts to hold them for hostage. Anyone they caught had died. The Drachmans had even been so kind as to send a full published list of the dead to Central Headquarters! There were a couple of officers not on it, but Ed was sure that meant they were probably being hunted down. Whatever the case, if the Drachmans used the full weight of their military, than Amestris was about to be outnumbered seven to one, not even taking into account this new group of Drachman alchemists.

Other news was more encouraging. Xing had promised to send a contingent of alchemists with all speed, with the possibility of troops later. Regular troops would take longer to mobilize across so great a distance. Still, help would be weeks in coming. Creta and Aerugo were also willing to consider sending in assistance, though negotiations were still under way. Aerugo was reluctant, but obviously in no position to press the issue too badly. Or so Edward hoped. The last thing Amestris needed was a full blown two-front war.

Edward found Alphonse standing in the observation car after lunch. The windows gave a great view of the vast northern mountains, and as the train came around a bend, they got a good view of North City itself way in the distance before another hill blocked it. "We're almost there," Ed commented as he joined Al at the window.

Al nodded and looked over at him. "Into the fray again, right Brother?"

It gave Ed a moment of pause. It had been a long time since Al just called him Brother. It happened so rarely now. He nodded, smiling slightly. "Yep, here we go again."

"You know," Al sighed as he looked out at the mountains in the distance, "When we were kids this was so easy."

"What do you mean?" Ed asked.

Al shrugged. "If people we knew were going to be hurt, we just charged in and defended them. We didn't worry about ourselves."

"We didn't have as many people to worry about," Ed pointed out with a small, ironic smirk. "So is it better to have more to worry about saving and more worth saving?" He knew he wouldn't trade everything they had gained for anything else in the world.

"Yeah," Al chuckled. "It is."

"Then let's do it," Edward held out his fist. "After all, we're unbeatable right?"

Al looked down at his hand. Then he laughed and did the same; matching hand to hand. "Totally."

Author's Note: Happy Holidays to all my readers, whichever wonderful reason you choose to celebrate in the winter season! And if you're buried under snow (like I am about to be and most of my friends are) stay warm and safe!