Still January 20th, 1965

"So what do you want to do now?" Elicia asked Alphonse as they cuddled in bed together after dinner. She lay cradled in his arms, her hair draped over the arm he had under her neck.

"I'm doing it," Al replied with a tired smile and a chuckle, kissing her cheek. It was amazing how much like himself –and yet renewed- a man could feel after a home-cooked meal, a hot shower, a shave, and some time alone with his wife. After months of working out day after day he was hardly worn out, but he did feel blissfully at rest.

Elicia smiled and turned her head to look at him, her silky pale yellow nightgown rustling against the sheets. "I mean now that you're back with me," she clarified. "Tomorrow, and the day after. Does this mean you're ready to go home?"

It was something he had been asking himself for a while. "No," he replied. "Not yet. I was thinking, maybe we could finally do a little traveling, just you and me," he ran one finger of his free hand along her soft jaw line. "We don't even have to leave Amestris. I just want to spend time with you again. Unless you don't feel like being romanced," he chuckled.

"I didn't say that," Elicia smiled softly. "I miss everyone, but there's always the phone. I think I would like to run off with a handsome man for a little while."

Al felt a moment of profound relief. He wanted to return to the world a little at a time. He wasn't ready to face Edward again, or face the thousand little changes that had surely happened while he was gone. A world rebuilding, at peace: seeing it with Elicia in the small, quiet places; that sounded heavenly right there. "Great!" After Elicia's absolute refusal to leave Central for so long, it almost seemed like a miracle that she had come to Dublith even. That she was willing to travel was a sign of healing for himself as much as knowing that Elicia was better and ready to move on to. "So, what romantic little hideaway should we visit first?"

January 21st, 1965

No matter how often they went away, the Central train station always seemed homier every time Edward came back. Perhaps because over the past years it had been the site of so many heartfelt goodbyes and joyous reunions. That afternoon was no exception. He emerged from the train with Winry at his side, and half his family with him this time, but a good portion of the other half was waiting on the platform.

Lia practically tackled Ethan, barely giving him time to drop his back before they were locked in a passionate embrace. After a few seconds Ed began to wonder if they would untangle themselves long enough to get home.

Grinning, he turned to watch Sara and Franz reunite with Trisha and James, whose squeals were every bit as enthusiastic as their aunt's, but much more childishly joyful.

"My gosh you've grown," Sara laughed as she hugged both of them at once.

"Three whole inches!" Trisha beamed proudly.

"Its s good to be home," Franz didn't get down on his knees, but he did hug the kids tight in turn, and then all four of them hugged together.

The real surprise though, was Aldon! "I thought you went back to Resembool," Ed exclaimed as he hugged his son. It was good to see him standing on his own after the last time they had been in the same place.

"We did," Aldon chuckled. "But as soon as we knew you were coming home we hopped on the train to come up for a few days. I hope you don't mind house guests, Cassie and the boys are all at the house. We only got in this morning."

"Well I think it's fantastic," Winry pushed in to give him a hug. "Of course we don't mind! Will we all fit in the car?" She looked around at the group.

"Lia and I each drove one," Aldon explained. "That way Sara and Franz can just drop me by the house and leave whenever they want."

"Sound good to me, Don," Sara smiled.

"Where's everyone else?" Ed asked with a laugh, though he did wonder a little where the other half of the family was. He didn't see Will, or Alyse… or Alphonse and Elicia.

"We weren't sure what time you'd be in exactly," Lia explained as she finally dislodged herself from Ethan long enough to reply. She was still grinning ear to ear. "Or if you'd rather have a rowdy reception or time to settle in quietly. We decided to ere on the side of less-chaotic. I'm sure if you want to invite everyone else over they're probably available."

Ed thought about a house full of himself, Winry, Ethan and Lia, Tore, and Aldon, Cassie and their entire brood: twelve people as it was, plus however long Sara, Franz, and the kids wanted to visit. "I think sixteen for dinner tonight is enough," he admitted, trying to keep a happy countenance. He didn't want to bring everyone else down with his disappointment that Al wasn't here.

"Maybe fifteen," Tore commented as he joined them. "I'm going to go see how Whitewater's doing."

"Given how crowded things are going to be, that's not a bad idea," Aldon admitted.

"If you can't reach him in his rooms, try calling Alyse's apartment," Lia suggested.

"So they're still a thing, huh?" Ed asked as there was a general scramble for packs and movement towards the cars.

Lia chuckled. "Oh yeah. It's almost guaranteed they're together in the evening, whether it's his place, hers, or out somewhere."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tore chuckled.

They pushed their way through the crowds and out to the parking lot, which was full of families piling into vehicles. In the distance, Ed saw Riza getting into a car with Maes and Elena; all three of the children were also in attendance. He hoped having family around her would help ease Riza's pain at having lost her husband.

As they climbed into the car, Ed took the wheel, letting Lia slide into the back with Ethan, where she promptly snuggled against him. Through the rear-view mirror, Ed watched his son put his arm around his wife again.

Ed couldn't resist doing the same with Winry when she sat down beside him and buckled up. She chuckled. "I wasn't aware it was permissible for the driver to hit on the lady of the house."

"Who says?" Ed asked, pretending to look affronted. "Besides, until we get home, we aren't in the house."

"True," Winry nodded. "But lady of the car doesn't sound nearly as classy."

Ethan burst out in laughter in the back seat. "Okay, not that I'm one to talk. But will you stop flirting and drive?"

There was a decent amount of chaos after dinner. While Edward and Winry had originally bought their house with the idea of a family in mind, he had never quite expected to pack it so completely! He and Winry had their room; Tore had his, and Ethan and Lia were not put out of theirs. Aldon and Cassie took the guest room, and made up beds for little Edward and Ian on the floor out of blankets and sleeping bags. Coran, Reichart, and Urey were camping out in the living room.

While Daia seemed happy to curl up in the master bedroom and sleep, and Rapscallion to haunt Tore's room awaiting his return – and hiding from the boys - Pir bounced around everyone, sniffing excitedly into everything and begging to be played with. There was something of puppyish-ness that the dog had never grown out of.

At the point where the lines for bathroom showers and baths began, Ed slipped downstairs and put on his coat. He perused the closet a moment before he decided – having left it here for two years – that tonight seemed like a good night for the red one.

"Going out?" Winry asked curiously when she spotted him.

"Yeah, I thought I'd take Pir for a walk," Ed smiled as he held up the leash. "Get him out of everyone's hair."

"And get some quiet for yourself?" Winry smiled knowingly. "Sounds nice. Don't stay out too long, okay?"

"I won't," Ed promised, kissing her briefly before he corralled the hyper dog and headed out into the chilly night.

Compared to the North, Central in January felt downright balmy. It was dry tonight, without snow, though the nip in the air said there might be flurries coming. Still, after everything he'd been through, the minor discomfort the weather caused really seemed like nothing. The neighborhood looked, for all purposes, almost exactly the same as it had for the past thirty plus years. One neighbor had a new mailbox. One house had children's toys out front when he knew the previous occupants had been an old lady and her widowed daughter. Little things, but the rest was blessedly the same. Yet it was also a little eerie; the way coming home always was, as if the world had gone on without them while he and the others were off fighting.

Walking Pir wasn't Ed's only reason for going out tonight, though it was something he had wanted to do; just him and his dog in the quiet. It didn't take them long to walk the distance to Alphonse's house. Tonight, if only for a few minutes, Ed wanted to talk to his brother and patch things up.

Lights were on downstairs when Ed walked up the path to the house, so Ed supposed everyone was still awake. It wasn't late after all. At least he knew someone was home. Ed knocked on the door and waited.

It took a minute, but before long Gracia opened the door. She looked startled for a moment, and then smiled warmly. "Hello, Edward. I wasn't expecting company this evening."

"Good evening, Gracia. Is Al here?" Ed asked with a smile back. It was good to see her friendly face.

For a moment Gracia looked pained. "I'm sorry, Ed. He's gone."

Wait, what? Ed tried to understand. "What do you mean gone?"

She sighed. "Come inside. Let's talk."

"Gracia! Please tell me this is some kind of sick joke." Ed followed her in, leading in Pir, who growled playfully at the cats, who were smart enough to bolt upstairs immediately.

"Sit down, Edward." Gracia commented and, as soft as it was, it still held the ring of a command that expected obedience; a mother's voice. Ed followed her into the living room and took a seat on the couch, where Pir sat down at his feet. Gracia sat down beside Ed. "Alphonse was home for less than twenty-four hours. When he came in the door he fell to his knees at Elicia's feet, told her that the alchemist was dead, and started crying right there as she hugged him. They went upstairs and didn't come down again until the next day, not even for dinner. When I got up they were already on the train elsewhere."

Al hadn't even waited for Ed to come home… to see family. He'd just…gone. Ed couldn't believe it of his brother. "Where did he go?"

"Alphonse didn't tell me initially," Gracia replied, meeting his eyes with an even gaze. "He just said he needed to think and that they would be back when he was done."

To think? Ed shook his head. "That idiot…. I need to talk to him, Gracia. Do you know where he is now?

Gracia sighed. "Elicia told me they were staying with an old family friend at first. They went to Dublith, which is where they've been for the past four months or so."

That, at least, made a little more sense. In his distraught mental state, Al would certainly have gone someplace conducive to focusing, and training. Dublith was a second – or now third he supposed – home. "Are they still there?"

Gracia shook her head. "Only briefly. Elicia called me this morning and said they were planning to do a little sight-seeing." She smiled then. "Something about Alphonse wanted some time just the two of them; something romantic."

Ed couldn't help smiling. As disappointed as he was, he felt a bit of relief. "That sounds like Al." It was the first thing in a while that really did. "So, I guess they won't be back for a while."

"I don't think so," Gracia agreed. "But I haven't been lonely," she assured him with a smile. "Elicia calls at least three times a week, and Will and Ren come over regularly. Alyse too."

"Has she brought Fischer with her?" Ed couldn't help his curiosity, not after Lia's comments.

"Several times," Gracia smiled, clearly pleased. "I enjoy it when she does. He's very lively, and very good at playing the gentleman."

"Interesting that you should say playing."

Gracia laughed. "He's no more refined than any of our friends were at that age, but he has a good heart, and he treats my granddaughter well. That's what matters."

"You think they'll make it permanent?" It was the first time Ed had paused to reflect on Cal and Alyse's relationship in what it really meant as far as family impact. Fischer would be Al's son-in-law, which made him indirectly related to Ed and his family as well.

"I rather hope they do," Gracia replied. "They make a good pair, and he fits in with the family surprisingly well. Oh, but listen to me gossiping," she shook her head. "Would you like something to drink, Ed?"

"No, I'm good thanks," Ed replied. "I really ought to head back towards home. I told everyone I was walking the dog. If it takes me too long they're liable to send out search parties."

"In Central?" Gracia looked amused.

Ed chuckled as he stood up and brought Pir to heel. "Right now, it's probably instinct."

"So that's why we haven't heard from them in a while," Winry commented, sitting down on the bed next to Edward. She had been concerned when Alphonse left in August, and she hadn't heard anything from Elicia in quite some time. Now, it seemed, that was to give Al his continued privacy. She could hardly blame her friend for that. "I'm glad they're going to have a nice vacation finally," she added with a smile.

"Yeah, me too," Ed replied, smiling, though it was still subdued, the way his humor had been since getting back from his walk. "I just wish I didn't feel like he was avoiding me."

"Give him time, Edward," Winry said softly, hugging him from behind. "You know Al. He needs time to get his head on straight and think things through, but he always comes around eventually."

"He's resented me for almost six years, Winry," Ed replied softly, his voice breaking slightly. "And I didn't even realize it until the fight. I want to make it up to him and I don't know how. He won't let me apologize."

"I don't think Al will be mad at you forever," Winry assured him. "It's not his way. But he's been through a lot. If he needed time to think, than I bet what he's doing is making himself deal with what's going on in his head so he can get past it. You know he likes to go off alone when he's troubled, and he hasn't been able to do that for a long time. Besides, he took Elicia with him. That's a good thing."

"I know it is," Ed agreed, leaning back against her, one hand coming up and resting on her arm. "But that doesn't make me feel better about this whole mess. I can't even figure out if it's a misunderstanding or if it's really my fault."

So much for Ed not having another major guilt trip. Winry gave him a squeeze. "You know what? Al's probably insecure about it because of his own failings too. He's so hard on himself, like you. He's probably beating himself up about this whole mess as much as you are. The next time you see each other I bet you hug, apologize, and both have a laugh about the whole thing."

Ed turned his head enough that she could see his face. He smiled. "I hope so. I guess I'm still trying to understand what happened. I mean, he just up and walked away from the military, like it was easy, even after so many years and everything we've accomplished. If it was that simple, why did he stay in so long? Why not get out earlier?"

Winry sat, listening as Ed poured out the pile of questions that always seemed to build up in his head. Sometimes, he needed to let them out, and just the act of talking would give him new perspective. If not, he always wanted hers. "Well," she asked when he finished, "Why haven't you? You hated being in the military when we were teenagers, but you took Mustang's offer just like Al did. You could have chosen to retire any time; after the Xing War, after Aerugo, when you were almost too sick to work, but there's some reason you stayed too, right?"

"So you think that maybe we had the same motives," Ed said thoughtfully.

"I do," Winry replied. "For all your differences, when the two of you agree to do something, your reasons are often the same."

Ed pondered that for a minute. "It was familiar," he finally admitted. "It was the only thing I really knew how to do, and it offered all the benefits I'd gotten used to having for backing my research. Man that sounds self-serving."

Winry chuckled and kissed his cheek. "Not really. It's a job that makes use of your strengths and makes it possible to make a living out of your talents. Besides which, Mustang's offer allowed you to make such a difference. Think about it. If you and Al hadn't started the training program and done all the work you have, we would never have had a chance of winning this war." Decades in the making, her husband had created a higher level of skilled alchemists, all capable of combat but unlikely to abuse those abilities. "And it wasn't by turning them into killers."

"You're right, of course," Ed agreed, he pulled free of her grasp enough to turn and lie down on the bed, pulling her gently down with him. "We had ideas, and we put them into effect. The program doesn't require us to run anymore, as much fun as it is to train potential State Alchemists, and keep them improving afterwards. We did what we wanted to do, and now Al has completed the last goal I think he really had."

"He's been struggling with what happened in Drachma for a long time," Winry nodded. "Tamirov is dead and Elicia is well. There's no real reason for him to stay on."

"There's not much reason left for me then either by that logic," Ed pointed out.

Winry looked into those golden eyes, trying to read just what he meant. She wasn't sure she dared to hope. "Does that mean you're thinking about retiring too?"

Ed kissed her gently, and pulled her closer. "Not tomorrow, but definitely soon. There's one more thing I want to do, but I don't expect it to take too long."

"This may sound terrible," Ethan chuckled through a gasp, "But I think this is even better than our wedding night." Lying in bed, at home with his wife, for the first time in far too long, was definitely the best possible place to be.

Lia giggled and snuggled closer into his side. "We both know what we're doing," she pointed out, kissing his neck. Her long, loose golden hair pooled around her, draping across his chest as she propped herself up on one elbow so they were face to face. "And I like making up for lost time," she teased, the warm joy in her voice echoed brightly in her eyes and dazzling smile.

"Well I'm not complaining," Ethan agreed, reaching out and wrapping his arms around her. Coming home was like returning from a wasteland to find that the waters of home were even sweeter than he remembered. It had been barely within the limits of his self-control to not vanish into the bedroom as soon as possible just to spend time with the woman who occupied every spare moment of his thoughts. The reality was intoxicating. "I hope I'm not too out of practice."

"It's better that you are," Lia teased. "Or I'd be worried, or jealous."

"Or furious," Ethan kissed her. "How could I ever even think of looking at another woman, when the object of my affections and childhood obsession holds my heart?"

"Your sweet talk has improved," Lia returned the kiss. "Not just in your letters."

"How else could I express how special you are?" Ethan asked. His heart-rate was slowing, and the frantic desire that had driven him earlier was ebbing away at last. "Especially when I wasn't here?"

"It is much more immediate in person," Lia acknowledged. "I just hope the sound-proofing you did in here worked."

Ethan had used alchemy to improve the walls in their room within a week of their marriage; as soon as he discovered that there was just no way to be silently intimate. It was much less embarrassing that way! His parents and Tore had never complained of overhearing them. Tonight, however, he had done a little more as a precaution against the three nephews camped out in the living room, barely a door away. "If Coran says something in the morning, we'll know we failed."

Lia's cheeks flushed pink. "How embarrassing."

"Nah," Ethan chuckled. "I could hear Mom and Dad sometimes when I was his age. It's just something you get used to. Besides, Cassie and Aldon managed to have five of them somehow," he grinned wickedly. "You think Coran and Reichart at least don't know what their parents get up to?"

"That doesn't mean I want the whole world to know what we're up to," Lia replied pointedly.

"Like they don't already?" Ethan teased. "We're married."

"The military has made you bolder," Lia remarked, resting her head against his chest, chin tilted so she could make eye contacted.

"No, you did that," Ethan disagreed, taking advantage of the perfect angle to steal another kiss. "You and two years of being denied your presence. The military just means I spent too much time around other guys. I definitely prefer the domestic life." Crude guys hanging out just didn't compare to Lia. He cupped her chin in his hand and leaned in for a much longer, deeper, kiss.

Lia returned it willingly. "Then I look forward," she murmured, "to re-domesticating you."

Author's note: Finis! Been a while since I said that. ;) The war is over, Amestris is safe from Drachma, but not without some heart-wrenching losses. Now it's time for folks to rebuild and move on with their lives. New story beginning next week!