Chapter 18

Roy Mustang followed Ed through the house out to the pool. They had just gotten off work and the man had invited him for dinner. Far be it from him to say no to one of Flynn's wonderful meals. He could have eaten out then went to one of his favorite hostess clubs like he did most evenings, but he would rather be with them. He often wondered how different things might have been if Ed had walked into her hospital room just five minutes later that day. What would she have done if he had been allowed the chance to tell her how he really felt about her? Would he be the one with a beautiful family living a practically perfect life? He did not begrudge Ed for any of his happiness; the man deserved it after all the years of hell he had to struggle through to finally get here. He honestly couldn't say if he could have stuck by Flynn through the aftermath of the philosopher's stone incident either. The woman had basically lost her mind for a time, and they all wondered if she would ever recover. Of course it wasn't her fault. How easy could it be to deal with other people floating around in your head? Living with the knowledge that these people were murdered and the very essence of them – their thoughts and emotions – were now inside of you. Once again, Edward Elric, persevered whether due through intestinal fortitude or sheer stubbornness (he would guess the latter); the man was now living a dream with a gorgeous wife and wonderful children.

The wife – Flynn Brogan Elric. The one woman Roy Mustang believed he could have committed himself to. However, he might just be fooling himself on that especially since it was never put to the test. Women had always been Roy's weakness and one woman in particular fascinated him and kept his interest after all these years. To say he was obsessed would be a slight understatement. Flynn was the final conquest, the one who got away, the one woman ever to tell the infamous lover Roy Mustang NO to sex. She was a challenge he couldn't let go. He liked to win. He played to win always. For him there was never any other option besides succeeding in whatever he put his mind to do. He achieved his dream of becoming Fuhrer. He totally restructured the government and made himself President. He could conquer a country but that one damn woman eluded him still and it pissed him off – she pissed him off.

Roy's attention was immediately transfixed on that woman as she was getting out of the pool. She was wearing a black string bikini which would have been enticing on any woman, but on her it took his breathe away. The sight of her usually made him want to melt, but right now he was hard as a rock. Motherhood had been good to her in all the right places. Her breasts were at least two sizes bigger, her hips were full and round, and she had a slightly rounded belly that he thought was quite attractive because it would make a perfect resting place for his head.

'That's one mother I'd like to fu-' His thought was broken off by her calling his name. Even the sound of his name on her lips in such an innocent manner was alluring to him.

"Roy!" she repeated, a little louder this time.

"Yes, Red?" he responded, moving his eyes to hers.

"Are you coming in or are you going to stand out here gaping all afternoon?" she demanded, wrapping a towel around her.

Aw, dammit. He smiled as he watched her. He loved the little red headed dynamo and not just for her looks. She could be a real shrew and a major pain in the ass, but he actually liked that about her. She had a kind, loving side that he saw when she interacted with her husband and children that made him envy them. In the end, he had no one to blame but himself that he was alone and didn't have the life Ed had – including her.

'Roy is being so weird today - even for him,' Flynn thought to herself as she got dressed. It had been awhile since she had caught him giving her one of those long, thoughtful stares. She wondered what he had been thinking. He didn't have the usual smug, lustful look that seemed to be his official face when he was around her. The expression was something else – one of a tender, regretful longing. She shivered as a chill ran up her spine. She remembered that day at the hospital when she had awakened from the coma. He had wanted to say something to her that day, but what? Prince Charming in the form of Edward Elric had stepped in and swept her off her feet and the rest was history. She sighed deeply with the realization that whatever it was wouldn't have mattered, and she couldn't be happier than she is now.

Would it even be possible to be happy with Roy Mustang? It was funny that she could easily picture him as a father but not as a husband. He loved her children and was the most wonderful, doting "uncle" anyone could ask for besides their real Uncle Al. But a husband? Faithfulness would be a definite problem for him. The man just didn't seem capable of it. He was so incredible ambitious, always setting his sights for the stars, how would he even have time much less the emotional energy to deal with a wife? He loved deeply and loyally; she had seen that in him with his subordinates when he was a Colonel. Throughout the years he had taken care of all of them and made sure they had the best lives possible, but they also earned it by pushing him into his present position.

Flynn wondered why, after all these years, he and Riza Hawkeye hadn't gotten married. They might as well. It was apparent to everyone that Riza loved him, but Roy seemed oblivious. Or maybe he just ignored it to keep from admitting his own feelings, or heaven forbid, marrying her. The most plausible reason was that Riza never pressed the issue because she knew exactly what she would be getting into with him and was smart enough not to do it.

Roy was still an incredibly frustrating, irritating man after all these years. He remained a sexual deviant as well. She had caught him from time to time indulging his voyeuristic tendencies. For the most part he was a harmless flirt, but sometimes he could be downright creepy.

Flynn hurried downstairs to begin making dinner. She stopped to kiss her husband on the lips since she had not given him a proper welcome earlier.

"Where's mine?" Roy asked with a teasing grin on his face.

Flynn surprised them all by leaning over to give him a quick peck on the lips. "There. Be happy, Mr. President," she said, continuing on her way to the kitchen.

Ed was chuckling despite himself. He couldn't help it after seeing the flabbergasted expression on the other man's face. His wife could do some of the most shocking things sometimes but at times like this he didn't mind because this was incredibly amusing. He loved how she could get one over on Roy so easily with such a simple thing as a kiss. He knew this man was still infatuated with his wife. He didn't worry because he knew she was committed to him. Sometimes he felt like strangling the black haired pain in the ass but that was a sentiment he had held for years and for reasons other than Flynn. They remained close friends because this man had been a great mentor and sometimes father figure. Roy Mustang had done everything possible to help him succeed in his endeavor to get his brother's body back, and he was able to return the favor years later by helping him become President. He had been a strong presence that Ed had relied on to help him through the mental and emotional battle he faced with Flynn after her release from the hospital.

The first few years after she woke up from the coma were pure hell. Ed never knew who he would be waking up with since her personality would shift between some of the others trapped inside of her. She also exhibited strange and unusual physical abilities, some good and some not so good. Sometimes she had been so angry and violent she had to be tied up to keep her and everyone else safe. Needless to say, he had wondered many times just what kind of prison he locked himself into by marrying her, but he loved her. Despite it all, he loved her fiercely and beyond all reason.

Flynn's saving grace had come in the form of May Chang, who was now Al's wife. She had used Alkahestry to remove and seal off as much as possible of the stone's remnants and after effects. This returned the woman that he loved to him. She still has some of the physical side effects, but the mental side effects, the most frightening part, had been taken care of.

Ed observed his lovely wife as she sat their daughter on a stool to 'help' mix frosting for a cake. He smiled as he watched her hold the whisk out for their little girl to take a taste, then quickly touched it to her nose.

"Mama!" Quinn shrieked, wiping the sweet, gooey substance off her nose.

Some moments in life were just too precious to miss.