I recently bought the full collection of Brotherhood…only, I'm not really sure if it will make me write faster or slower. Oh well, time for Chapter 10!

ATTENTION! ATTENTION! I am looking for artists to draw me an image cover for this story! I can't draw at all (it's why I write) so I am petitioning for people to do it for me. This can be done in one of two ways: 1) a book cover or 2) a movie poster style. My only other requirement is that you contact me regarding this in a wonderful review (with a tidbit about whatever chapter you're reviewing) and we can start PMing from there. I want to give you creative freedom and I'll give links to all submissions and mention the top three in this story. I don't know how many chapters I'll give it but, hey, we'll figure it out. I hope this is a good opportunity for all of us.

Chapter 10

Oh, how he hated tuxedos.

In all of Ed's life prior to this day, there had only been three instances where he had been forced to wear some variation of a tuxedo. Out of all of those, only one held nothing but good memories for him, and that was the day of his wedding. Now, thanks to Ling (or as Ed liked to refer to him, squinty-eyed loudmouth), he was forced to wear his tuxedo once again.

"Ed, can you zip me up?" Of course, there were some advantages to the whole thing in the first place. Turning to his wife in her navy dress, he smiled on the inside and wondered how he had gotten so damn lucky.

His hands delicately touched the zipper at her back and pulled it up as Winry let her hair fall. Ed stepped back to survey her as she tied her hair behind her and reached for the chiffon scarf that was lying on their bed. Ed's eyes started drooping in boredom as he watched Winry wrap the scarf around herself before glaring at the mirror in scrutiny.

"Do you think this dress makes me look fat?" Where had that come from? All semblance of boredom now gone, Ed quirked an eyebrow at his wife.

"Why are you even asking that?" He wasn't irritated, despite his tone implying so. Winry turned to face him with a pout, but Ed didn't relent under the stony gaze. "You've never asked before. In fact, I can't even recall a time you were ever insecure about your body and your looks."

"I'm not insecure!" she protested loudly. "I'm just asking a question, that you, as my dutiful husband, should answer."

"Yeah, you are asking a question that teenage girls who are insecure would ask," Ed chided, but Winry didn't back down from her verbal assault.

"You're incorrigible, you know that?" Ed could only shrug at his wife's description of him as she turned back to the mirror. Sensing she was truly upset, he stood up and walked over to her whilst she fidgeted with her scarf. "Just answer the damn question, will you?"

"Winry, in no possible way can you look fat. Honestly, you're one of the sexiest women out there." He started rubbing her shoulders and she slumped back against his chest in relaxation. "Honestly, where did you even get that idea in the first place?" He felt her muscles tense, and she seemed to clam up almost instantly. Sensing something was actually wrong with his wife, he turned her around to face him. Looking over her tightened face, he quickly asked her what was wrong.

"Ed, I-" Much to Ed's scowling displeasure, the door opened at that moment and Al poked his head in.

"Are you guys almost ready?"

"Geez, Al, ever heard of knocking?" Ed snapped at him, but Al seemed unfazed, merely stepping into the room with confidence. "We could have been naked."

"I figured you weren't that irresponsible." Ed gave his brother a scathing glance as both he and his wife regained their bearings. "I just know it'll take a few hours to reach Central."

"Okay, okay, Al, there's no need to mother us," Ed retorted, his frustration beginning to reach its peak. "Are you going to walk us down the stairs, too?"

Al sighed. "No, I'll just meet you down there. Mei's waiting in the car." With that, the younger brother surreptitiously exited himself from the room. Ed rubbed his eyes before turning to Winry who was quickly grabbing her purse, all vestiges of her previous mood suddenly gone.

"Come on, Ed, stop gawking!" she yelled and Ed popped an eyebrow. "Al's waiting for us, so let's get going!" Ed could only try and force himself to relax as he followed her from the room. Between his brother's hanging nervousness and his wife's sudden mood swing, he was starting to lose it. Since when had he become the sane one in the Elric family? Before he noticed it, his feet had already carried him downstairs.

"…have the tickets?" said Al's voice, and Ed finally realized his younger brother was, in fact, talking to him. "Do you have the tickets?"

"Yes, mother Al, they're in my suit pocket, along with my wallet." He patted his suit to feel and make sure that everything was still there while Al nodded nervously. Winry swept past the two of them, no doubt on her way to the car.

"All right…good…" Al stammered out and Ed quickly shot his hand out to steady the poor young man.

"Relax, okay," Ed told him in a likely ill-fated attempt to console him. "You're ready for this, okay?"

"B-but, what if something goes wrong? What if I lose the ring? O-or what if I can't find the right time to ask her?" A small pause passed before Al revealed what seemed to be his deepest, darkest fear. "What if she says no?" The question had been little more than a whisper but Ed had heard it just fine all the same.

"Al, have you seen the way that girl looks at you?" he asked with a smirk. "It's like every time you walk in the room, her eyes light up with admiration. If that girl rejects the possibility of marrying you, then Winry's really a man…albeit a very feminine one." Al's chuckle told him that he had done his job of soothing his younger brother's insatiable nerves.

"Hey, are you guys coming or what? I think it would look sufficiently awkward if Mei and I showed up without our dates," Winry barked, poking her head in the room.

"I think it'd look more awkward if you showed up without tickets, dear," he told his wife in a simpering tone and she glowered at him vehemently.

"Then get your ass in the car!" The door snapped shut the same as she had, and Ed unclenched the fists he didn't realize he had been balling in his pockets. Al chuckled again.

"She seems to be in a good mood."

"And sometimes she is," Ed commented. "Then there's other times we'll be in bed at night and she'll snap at me because I'm reading or doing something, anything. I mean, Winry and I have always argued, you know that, but something seems different here."

"Well," Al began, clapping his brother on the back, "I'd say if you want to avoid her wrath we should probably get going. Wouldn't do to keep the ladies waiting."

"Ever the chivalrous brother, aren't you Al?" Ed observed, taking the lead and bounding out of the house, making sure to lock the door before striding purposefully over to the car. "Unlike Ling, who couldn't even spring for a one-night stay in Central. That's coming out of my own pockets you know."

"I'm sure the women will be grateful," Al told him but Ed refused to make any remark to the statement, getting into the driver's seat and buckling up.

From there, the car ride to Central passed in relative ease. Al seemed to have reduced his tension and was able to slip into an easy (if not entirely romantic) banter with Mei in the backseat of the car. Clearly, it wasn't the most romantic place for Al to begin his proposal plan, but it would have to do for now. Meanwhile, Winry didn't seem so bent on her earlier foul attitude and was now chatting (somewhat) animatedly with her husband as he drove the car. It was the relatively early evening when the four arrived in Central and checked in at the hotel where they were registered. After that was taken care of, it was just a few blocks of walking to where the streams of people were flowing in.

"Tickets, please," said a rather burly man at the entrance. Ed presented the item of admittance to him and they were all quickly ushered inside. As soon as they had stepped foot in the crowded ballroom, Al and Mei split off to go and greet Ling and his entourage, leaving the young married couple standing there rather awkwardly.

"So…" Winry breathed, rocking back and forth somewhat on her heeled shoes.

"Food?"

"Sounds great." Ed quickly took his wife's arm and the two of them expertly weaved through the crowd on their way over to the food table, hunger grumbling in both of their stomachs. "Ah, Ed, my scarf, I think it-"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I must have brushed too close to you, got caught." The sudden intrusion of the masculine voice into his thoughts caused Ed to turn and face the man who had caught Winry's scarf. Instantly, he recognized the face, despite having never met the man before. "I hope I haven't held you up."

"No, you haven't," Ed answered him politely. "You're Prince Claudio, aren't you?" Winry seemed surprised and held her returned scarf almost reverently.

"I am, and you are?" The question had not been asked unkindly, and Ed quickly clasped the man's hand in greeting.

"Edward and Winry Elric, we're, uh…I guess you could say we're friends of President Ling."

"Aha, Ling, interesting man, wouldn't you say?" Claudio pondered with a smile.

"That's one way of putting it," Ed noted, and Winry stealthily elbowed him, causing a grimace that seemed to have gone unnoticed by the crown prince of Aerugo.

"He is a large part of the reason for this party. Had he and his father not sued for peace, we would not be standing here today," Claudio remarked. "Well, I really must be off, plenty of delegates to meet. Pleasure meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Elric." With a final wave, he was off, leaving the two mere feet from the food table. A glance was exchanged between the two in slight awe, and almost like ghosts, they floated over to the luscious table of food.

"Never in my life did I think we'd meet these kinds of people, Ed," Winry remarked as she grabbed a plate and started loading food on it.

"I know; it's like some bizarre dream. People like us shouldn't do meet and greets with the rulers of nations," Ed said, grabbing a sandwich off a platter, pivoting towards his wife. "What on earth are you eating?"

"What, it's just fish and mustard with some…I think it's okra?" Winry's thoughtful look only drew more skepticism from Ed as he stared at his wife in utter surprise.

"I know that…but my question is why? Why do you have fish, mustard, and okra on the same plate?"

"I felt hungry for it, okay?" she snapped peevishly and Ed quickly backed away from the subject, not wanting to deal with any of Winry's more foul moods this evening. "Oh, look, it's Detective Mustang! Let's go say hi." Happy to leave the disgusting plate behind (though not his sandwich), he followed his wife over to the sharply dressed, charcoal-haired detective and his date, who was none other than Riza Hawkeye.

Ed was surprised to see the woman looking so loose. For all his encounters with her (even the impromptu one several mornings ago) she was the pinnacle of professionalism. Now, here she was, decked out in a rather sultry red dress with her hair down and an actual, genuine smile on her face, and not just one born of a witty joke or necessary situation. She still seemed to hold her professional head high, but Ed was very quick to discern the difference between Riza Hawkeye and Detective Hawkeye.

"Just the one time, was it, Mustang?" he jeered as the married couple approached the apparently affable duo. He saw Roy's eyes twitch as he turned towards the younger man.

"Fullmetal, I didn't see you there," he remarked, causing Ed's smirk to drop from his face. "Rather, I didn't know that you'd be coming."

"'Cause I'm entirely sure you missed my outburst at the station yesterday when you were sitting ten feet away?"

"So, you actually do know when you're being an insufferable brat!"

"Just as I see you haven't learned when you're an annoying bastard." Suddenly a more feminine voice interjected itself into the conversation.

"Roy, behave yourself."

"Same goes for you, Ed." Ed pouted at Winry's soft smile, but scolding touch, as she moved to greet the female detective. "I don't think we've met. I'm Winry Elric, and you're-"

"Roy's partner…well, I guess that's not the case anymore. Riza Hawkeye." The two women greeted each other amiably while the men turned away. "So, you're Edward's wife, he talks about you quite often."

"Does he now?" Ed tried to slink away from the awkward conversation but Mustang's barking laugh all but stopped him. "Well, he can be sweet. Are you and Mr. Mustang together?"

"Hardly…" Roy seemed to not want to hear anymore and departed, aiming for the food table. Ed followed the man, leaning against the table as Roy grabbed a roll, munching on it viciously.

"You didn't seem pleased by her response," Ed observed and the older man grunted. "What, did you really think she would say you were together?"

"I didn't expect anything," he confessed. "I just don't like being here. Sure, a date would be nice but not when it's set up by her grandfather."

"Chief Grumman?" Roy looked at him in surprise and Ed tapped his head thoughtfully. "I heard Grumman muttering about it during our meeting with him." The two men softly chuckled, their eyes getting a quick bead on their dates, both of whom seemed to still be lost in conversation. As their chuckles died down, the most pleasant silence they had ever shared settled between them.

That is, until a loud crash resounded near them (though very few other heads turned). Followed by the crash was a high-pitched and panicked, "Sorry, sorry…so sorry."

"It's fine, you didn't ruin my dress," replied the woman. "You're that little detective I met the other day, aren't you?" Ed craned his neck to finally get a glimpse of the two conversationalists. The man, who had evidently dropped a rather large platter of food, was short and chubby while the woman he was talking to was anything but. To Ed's eye, she was either trying to stand out from the crowd, with her black sequined dress, or she was trying to seduce someone. Roy perked up beside him and both focused their attentions on the conversation.

"D-detective Vorac, ma'am."

"Don't call me ma'am; it makes me sound so old. Just call me Solaris."

"Yes, ma'am…I-I mean Solust, er, Solaris." The man's stuttering was starting to draw attention and Solaris was scowling at the prospect of it. "Where…where's your new boyfriend?"

"Oh, he's here somewhere," she said with a laugh. "I hardly find it necessary right now to search for him, if you know what I mean?"

"Of-of course. I understand perfectly."

"Good, well, take care of yourself, Detective Vorac…and don't be so messy next time you see a pretty girl walking your way." Solaris quickly took her leave and Ed pulled away to check on his wife. Pleased to see he could notice her in the crowd, he directed his sight to the watch on his wrist.

"Sorry to see that my presence bores you," Mustang remarked.

"I didn't say that."

"It's fine, Fullmetal. We should probably get back to our dates anyway." Ed chose not to respond as he and Roy maneuvered their way back to Riza and Winry. The head detective quickly took his date's arm, and both of the women immediately took it as a sign that it was time to part from one another.

"Well, it was wonderful to meet you Mrs. Elric," Riza confessed with a smile and Winry gave off an infectious laugh.

"Just Winry, and it was good to meet you, too, Miss Riza. You should stop by sometime." The two women finished exchanging their goodbyes before both Roy and Riza vanished into the crowds. Winry quickly rounded on Ed. "You sent them away, didn't you?"

"I did not!" he protested violently, quickly glancing down at his watch again. They were out of time. "I'm just running on a very tight schedule, here."

We're at a party…what kind of schedule could you possibly have?" Ed sighed, grabbing his wife's arm firmly, jerking her towards a pair of open double doors. She made sounds of protest for a moment but he purposefully ignored them, pressing on through the portal created by the doors and into the open air of the garden. "Ed, what are we doing here?"

"I saw Al and Mei leave through these doors earlier," he informed her. A quick look told him that she was angry with him, whipping her scarf closer to her with a look of pure poison.

"Your point is?" Winry countered and Ed ignored her again, striding further into the garden. She quickly followed him until he stopped behind a row of semi-tall hedges. Peeking over, he saw Al and Mei sitting on a stone bench, talking quietly. He saw Al's hands fumble with the ring box inside his pocket for a moment. "Ed! If Al and Mei want to-oh!" The exclamatory noise had tumbled from her throat so jarringly that Ed reacted all too quickly, shoving the both of them beneath the sight of the hedge.

"And you say that I'm the loud one, Winry. You almost blew our cover!" he hissed in a hushed tone and Winry wasted no time in slapping his shoulder.

"Yeah, well, you didn't exactly tell me Al was planning to propose to Mei right now!"

"Generally, people don't say anything when plans are secret." He hastily fitted his hand through a thin piece of hedge and was able to look through. He felt Winry's body heat press up against him as she clamored for a look as well. From their position they were able to see Al quickly get onto one knee and Ed could tell his wife was about to squeal, otherwise he wouldn't have felt her hands digging into his shoulder. He strained his ear, hoping to hear something of the conversation through the hedge. What he did hear was something else entirely.

"Edward, is that you?" Ed wheeled around into a once more upright position, dragging his wife with him.

"Hohenheim…what are you doing here?" Ed snapped at him and Hohenheim's brow creased with confusion and pleading.

"I'm here on official University business…President Dante asked me to come. We go a long way back, the two of us." He seemed to be remembering some past time with the woman that was currently president. Ed's scowl deepened. "Actually, though, I'm surprised you're here. Alphonse didn't mention you'd be coming when he called."

"Probably because of what happened the last time we met." The man didn't seem to hear him whatsoever, and it only served to agitate him further.

"And you must be Winry! I haven't seen you since you and Edward were playmates," Hohenheim said with a slight crinkling to his eyes. "You're the spitting image of your mother."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that, but thank you for the compliment," Winry said with a kindness that Ed knew wasn't forced. A slight pang touched his heart as he realized how easily his own wife could converse with the man he refused to call his father. One of those very rare but very potent feelings of longing welled up within him. Part of him truly did was to know the man who was supposedly his father, but part of him couldn't just accept the abandonment he had left him and Al to. Winry's voice floated back to him and he gritted his teeth. She didn't even have a father and here he was, completely denying his. He was about to open his mouth to say something but he found his father was already walking away.

"Where's he going?" Ed asked with a small bark to his voice.

"Not sure…something about talking with the commissioner," Winry answered him and he shrugged. Any soft feelings he had developed for the man in the last minute were now completely gone. "Wanna dance?"

"Sure. Why not?" Ed took her hand and led her back inside. The ballroom was still swarming with people, the mass seeming even larger now. The band was finally playing music and Ed and Winry quickly locked hands, beginning to sway to the lively music.

"We haven't danced like this since our wedding." Ed just grunted in agreement as Winry laid her head on his shoulders. "It's nice."

Ed couldn't help but agree, closing his eyes for a moment. At least, until he suddenly bumped into someone and the moment between the couple was ruined. "Hey! You're Edward Elric! Dad! Hey, over here!"

"What is it, Selim?" Ed recognized that voice with a small amount of trepidation and snapped himself forward to face the man before him, Winry mimicking his actions not even a second later. "Ah, Fullmetal, it's good to see you again."

"Hello Commissioner, good to see you, too. Th-this is my wife, Winry," Ed garbled out. He knew he wasn't completely himself, but in the presence of Commissioner Bradley it was hard to not be intimidated. Surveying the Bradley family quickly revealed a portrait of one of the most influential families in Amestris. From the young teenage Selim Bradley, whose height was starting to get near his father's; to the demure and kind Mrs. Bradley whose arm was looped through her husband's.

"Charmed." However, Commissioner Bradley was the most recognizable with his thick moustache and jet black hair that had just a few streaks of gray. His eyes lit up with an unspoken kindness, but behind them you could see the hardness that would befit one with the title of Commissioner. "But, Fullmetal, I'm rather surprised to see you here."

"My brother is dating," Ed started to explain before catching a glimpse of a tousled Al and Mei, a diamond ring sitting on Mei's finger, "make that engaged, to President Yao's sister."

"Ah, makes sense…and I thought I spotted Head Detective Mustang around here with Detective Hawkeye as well, if I'm not mistaken." To Ed's ears, it almost sounded like a threat and, for some reason, he quickly leapt to the defense of the two.

"Yeah, that would be Ling-I mean, President Yao's doing as well. He kind of invited all the detectives at East PD so Mustang and Hawkeye came together 'cause they didn't have any time to find dates before then…" Bradley surveyed him with such a serious look that even Winry tensed up next to him, afraid the Commissioner would see through his lie.

Then he laughed so jubilantly all the tension was melted away.

"Oh, what a laugh. East always does come up with some good stories." Ed and Winry forced out some awkward laughter as well to not seem suspicious. "Incidentally, how do you like it over at East? I heard you had quite the tangle with a serial killer over there."

"I-I like it. I'm sure Winry's glad I'm there, too."

"Well, I like it when I get to see my husband more than twice a week!"

"I'm more than glad to hea-" Bradley cut himself off as a heavy set man (who Ed noticed was the one that let them in) approached him. He seemed to be nothing more than a sluggish brute but the things he whispered to Bradley remained unheard by everyone else. Bradley quickly checked his watch and nodded. "All right, then. I'm sorry everyone but it appears there is an issue which I must attend to. I guess that's what happens when you contract to an outside security team. Am I right Mr. Indol?"

"I suppose so, sir," the man responded to him. Bradley quickly bid everyone a farewell before leaving with the man. A slightly awkward pause passed between the remaining four until Winry turned to the young Selim.

"So, uh, Selim, are you planning on joining the police force like your father?" she asked and he turned to her with a smile and a nod.

"Once I finish high school, I'm going to major in Criminal Justice before joining the department," Selim answered her as his mother placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, Selim does admire his father so; it's quite sweet," Mrs. Bradley gushed. "Oh, it reminds me of when I met him, granting he was only Officer Bradley back then, but he had quite a heart…I remember how he'd tell me his dreams for the future and-"

"Mother!" Selim whined and the older woman seemed to finally realize that she had been rambling, At Selim's reminder, she quickly glanced down to her wristwatch. "Do we have to be going?"

"Yes, plenty of other dignitaries to speak with. A pleasure to meet you both."

"Bye Mister Edward!" Ed and Winry gave them each a parting wave until they were out of sight and Winry gave an obvious shudder.

"So, that's what a hurricane feels like, huh?" Winry voiced and Ed chuckled nervously.

"You felt it too?" Winry afforded him a nod as a loud drone of applause cascaded around the room. Both of their heads turned towards the large and ornate stage, and Ed transfixed his eyes on the woman who appeared to be around Hohenheim's age standing on the stage. Her black hair, which was flecked with gray, was tied up in a bun and she wore a smile on her face.

"Fellow citizens of Amestris!" she called to the crowd at large and at once everyone seemed to fall silent. "I welcome you to this gala for the most momentous of occasions: the ending to the Xing-Aerugo Naval War!" More shuddering applause followed and even Ed found himself joining in. President Dante raised her hands again to silence the crowd, focusing her energy into her next words. "Yes, yes, although the treaty will not be signed until tomorrow, I feel it is enough cause for celebration tonight. For that, I present to you President Ling Yao of the recently named Republic of Xing, whose efforts are to thank for this."

As President Dante walked back from her position, Ed was able to see Ling stand up and walk to where the president had been. Behind him he had caught sight of Prince Claudio, as well as a few other dignitaries, including Lan Fan. The clapping that had started at the announcement of Ling tapered off and Ling stood there with his trademark Cheshire grin.

"People of Amestris, it is with great pleasure that I stand in your beautiful hall today as an emissary of peace for my country. Long did my father wish for peace in his failing years, and now at last, I can tell him that his dream will become a reality in the halls of your coun-"

BANG!

It had happened so suddenly, but Ed reacted instantly, dropping to the floor and pulling Winry with him. The crowd rose in a tide of seething panic as some tried to stampede out of the hall, others tried to hide under tables and still others followed Ed's example, bringing them and their loved ones to the floor. Ed quickly looked up to get a survey of the area. A brief glance told him that both Al and Mei were okay, huddling together over by the food table. His gaze swiveled to the stage where he saw that Lan Fan had quickly protected Ling, who was very clearly alive and well.

Ed's eyes narrowed. The shot had been fired at the participants on the stage; that much had been clear the moment that no other shots were fired. But if Ling was alive then who-? His eyes very swiftly latched onto the body of Prince Claudio, blood pouring across his attire. Next to him, President Dante was frazzled and being pulled away by her bodyguards, making hand motions that suggested she wanted the body cleaned up as soon as possible.

"Ed, what's going on? !" Winry screamed out, more to be heard than out of any fear.

"I don't-" Ed didn't get very far in his statement. A security officer had run past, his walkie-talkie blaring loudly. It was impossible. There was no reason for that man to be here. But at that moment, it didn't matter. He had information, and now he had to act on it. "Stay here!"

It was a very brisk command and a confusing one as well, so it didn't surprise him that Winry called after him. Ed blocked her voice out as he let his feet guide him, heading deep into the writhing mass of people that was in an exodus to the exterior. As soon as he had broken to the outside air, Ed split away, following a detachment of security guards. He promptly arrived at his destination and was surprised to find not only the Commissioner but Detectives Mustang, Havoc, and Breda as well. The Commissioner waved him over as soon as he saw him.

"I heard there was a suspect…over one of the guards' radios," Ed explained to them. Bradley was the one to answer him.

"Yes, though those incompetent security guards couldn't even get a hair off him. At best, we have a rough description of him: tanned skin, a cross-shaped scar on his forehead, tattoos on his right arm, and red eyes."

"An Ishvalan?" Mustang blurted out, surprise in his voice.

"Scar," Ed spat, causing the other four to look at him curiously. "Or, at least, that's what he's called. We never found out what his real name is."

"Yes, well, whatever the case may be, he is a criminal and we must capture him." Bradley's face was stone cold, and an unbridled wrath burned in his eyes.

"So, where do we start, sir?" Mustang crisply requested.

"We will start nowhere. The Central City Department will handle it from here." Bradley informed them and Ed found his fists clenching and his body shaking. "What I need from you men is to take your loved ones here at the gala and go to wherever you're staying at. Provide an example to all those other panicking people."

Ed knew there was no way to argue with the commissioner, so he quickly nodded and headed back towards the extruding crowd, feeling all the eyes on his back the whole while. It wasn't until he got inside that he was waylaid.

"Where are you staying, Fullmetal?" Mustang's voice was insistent and Ed knew better than to protest against the man.

"Hotel Amestria."

"Good. So are we." Ed tried to wrestle away from Mustang's hand, but failed spectacularly. "Grab your family and we'll go together." It was hard to say no to the hand hanging on his shoulder. So it was that roughly a quarter of an hour later, Ed found himself walking out with the rest of his family and Mustang's entourage. However, no sooner had they dropped them all off at the hotel than Mustang had tightly gripped Ed's arm and steered him from the building.

"Hey, what's with the kidnapper act?" Ed protested, but Mustang continued to drag him along.

"Don't try to snow me, Fullmetal!"

"'Snow me'…who even uses those words anymore?"

"Are you trying to tell me I'm old?"

"No, I'm trying to figure out where the hell you're taking me!" Mustang sighed, but didn't relent in his procession until they had walked through a pair of doors to a dimly lit bar. To Ed's observation, it was empty except for an older woman behind the counter who was lazily smoking a cigarette.

"So, it's true, is it? Prince Claudio was assassinated?" the woman said as Roy pulled up a stool and indicated that Ed should do the same. He contemplated running, but determined there was no point to it.

"Your ability to gather information still astounds me to this day, Madam Christmas."

"My girls called from the party and I got the gist of it." The woman quickly took out a bottle of whiskey and set it on the counter before him.

"I was wondering why this place was so empty."

"It's Sunday. I close early." She promptly diffused her cigarette in an ash tray and proceeded to walk away. "There's more drinks behind the counter. I'm going to bed." Roy quickly thanked her and started pouring himself a glass.

"You drink?"

"No."

"Hmph…neither do I," Roy professed, pushing his filled glass away from him. "So…Scar? Sounds like you know him."

"I don't know him, but I know a lot about him." Roy nodded, glancing at Ed in question. "He killed Winry's parents in Ishval. They worked at a hospital he blew up."

"The Ishvalan Bomber, huh?" Roy picked up his glass once again and toyed with his drink, as if contemplating the merits of drinking it. "Looks like you and I are more connected than I ever thought."

"I suppose so." Silence followed, broken only by the ticking of the clock and the clinking of ice in Roy's glass. It seemed to be an eon before Roy spoke again.

"Ed." It was the use of his simple name that sparked his interest and forced him to look at the sullen detective.

"Let me tell you a story. The story of Maes Hughes."

Author's Note: The next chapter is one I'm really looking forward to. What this mean's is that I've already started on it and it's a big one. Obviously, the events in this chapter were pretty big which means we're very close to the second half of this story. Anyway, that's all I have to say. Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter, I hope you all return and more. I'd love to see lots of reviews. Make sure to let me know if you're interested in my proposition at the top of the page and take the time to vote in my poll. In the meantime, review and Dare to Be Silly.