For what it's worth:
It's never too late to be whoever you want to be.
I hope you live a life You're proud of,
and if you find that you're not,
I hope you have the strength to start over.
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
The wedding was a small, intimate affair attended by only immediate family and the closest of friends. It was shuffled together quickly over the previous few weeks, after the dramatic events between myself, Edward, and King Bradley reached a deadly climax and offered Roy Mustang a powerful moment of extreme clarity. He told us upon our arrival back at Central that he realized life is short; something you think he would have comprehended during his years at war serving as a State Alchemist. He realized that life can't be spent worrying about rules or how to please everyone else. You have to figure out what makes you happy, and fight tirelessly in the pursuit of that happiness. It's the only thing that makes life with all it's hardships worth living. So after years and years of sneaking around, laughing off rumors, and lying to avoid any obvious conflict of interest that could affect them professionally, Roy damned the consequences and married Riza.
"I'm the goddamn Brigadier General." He said with a proud, devious grin. "I'd like to see someone try to stop me. Besides, they all think I'm replacing Bradley as Secretary of Defense; they'd be signing their own discharge papers if they pissed me off now."
We both knew he'd never take the job, it would separate him from Riza and the rest of his team. But it was fun to watch the subordinates dance around him even more nervously than usual. The only person who was never intimidated by him was Edward. Not even when he was handed the responsibility of best man.
Riza had always been very straightforward and to the point, and her wedding ceremony reflected that. It was short and sweet and didn't waste anyone's time. The vows were quick and traditional and there was no sign of overly romantic fluff. In short, it was classic and tasteful. Just like Riza. They chose to marry outside, in the snowy church yard of Trinity Church, just near One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan's financial district. It was fitting for them. The tiny church had been there for over a hundred years despite being incredibly challenged by the forces of the terrible day when it defied the odds and remained standing amidst the rubble of the Twin Towers, which lived only a few blocks away. It was a symbol of endurance through the most trying of times, and perfectly represented the love that Roy and Riza shared secretly for years knowing full well the consequences if ever caught. The late Secretary of Defense had a no tolerance policy for office fraternizations, and had proven himself more than once to be void of human compassion. With rumors flying that Mustang could be taking over, Roy seized his opportunity.
While the ceremony was modest and occupied by a small number of exclusives, the after party that evening was an over-the-top affair with easily 300 people in attendance. It was the decadent foods, flowing champagne, twelve piece jazz band and the Plaza Hotel matching the grandiose pagentry of exuberant joy and prideful boasting that simply screamed 'Roy Mustang'. The man never missed a chance to publicly bask in the glory of personal accomplishment, and the only way to celebrate something as huge as this was for him to do something he never did: flaunt his money.
"I don't mean this the way it's coming out," I said to Edward as he came back from the bar and handed me a glass of champagne. "But how did he afford to do all this in such a short amount of time?"
Ed clasped my hand as we took our seats at the head table next to the empty Bride and Groom seats and we waited for Roy and Riza's arrival.
"Mustang's got money. He was a State Alchemist for years, and even though leaving the program when he was promoted to Brigadier General was actually a pay cut since it's mostly a desk job, he does pretty well there. But most of his money comes from smart investing. He bought several shares of stock in Apple back in the early 90's, then sold a few years down the road."
My jaw dropped. "So he's... like..."
"Stupid rich." He said nonchalantly, sipping his scotch. "You'd never know. He came from nothing so it's never gone to his head. He grew up in foster homes, then joined the military at 18 and climbed the ladder the respectable way. Riza had a less-than-charmed upbringing as well. Her mother died giving birth to her and she joined the military when she was 20 after her father passed. Her father knew Roy and that's how they met." I paused, taking a moment to ponder my next move as my fingertips traced the rim of my champagne flute.
"Did they raise you?" I asked somewhat nervously. His eyes drifted off to the side as my question washed over him, and the corner of his mouth curved up slightly.
"Yea, I guess you could say that, though I never lived with either of them. I spent two years in the hospital and when I was well enough to join the military, Roy had the 7th floor converted into a living space. I've been up there since I was fourteen." He paused to sip his scotch again. "I've never thought of them as parental figures, even though I knew they were involved with one another even back then. Caught them big time in a broom closet when I was 16." He laughed.
I couldn't hide my blush, and he grew quiet suddenly as his face shifted from young, mischievous charm to his alert, molten gaze and he leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"You look gorgeous. Can't wait to rip that dress off."
All the muscles in my lower stomach clenched. Holy cow. He planted a soft kiss just below my ear then swiftly stood to join the rowdy applause as everyone cheered to Roy and Riza's arrival. I was sure that my face matched the vibrant fuschia of the small scrap of floaty chiffon I was wearing, and I gathered my wits to stand and applaud with everyone else. I glanced at Ed, and was met with his usual shit-eating grin. He looked amazing like always, just a little cleaner than usual. Shaved, with combed hair and that incredible designer suit in black on black that he wore to the charity function. During the evening I'd noticed more than a few sets of envious eyes in the room taking in Edward and then sizing me up by comparison. They'd become slack-jawed and salavating at the sight of him and then snap their mouths shut into pouts and frown in dissaproval at the sight of me. I'd remind myself that it was just childish jealousy, and just as my skin would start to crawl as highschool came flooding back, I'd feel his hand at the small of my back and I'd look up at him to find that while every woman was staring at him, he was looking at me.
The boisterous cheering softened to a dull roar and the band played on as Roy and Riza made the rounds, saying quick hellos to each table of friends and collegues before finally making their way to their seats beside us at the head table. Roy was dashing as ever in a classic black and white tux and Riza simply stunned the room. Everyone there was so accustomed to her straight-laced toughness, the sight of her in floor length white silk and her blonde hair flowing was breathtaking. Edward and I hugged them both, unable to surpress our huge grins, and Riza pulled back from my embrace and quietly asked,
"How's everything working out?" Clearly she meant between me and Edward. I slid my gaze to him and Roy exchanging boyish jabs playfully and laughing together. I realized then just how special Roy really was to Edward. He didn't just give him a second chance at life, he became his best friend. I smiled and looked back at Riza.
"It's good. Really good. Amazing actually." Her gaze fell back to where mine previously was on Ed and Roy.
"Look at those two." She said as we watched them chatting animatedly, mocking each other and laughing together. "I owe you an apology Winry."
"What for?" I asked.
"For begging you to stay away from him. I thought for sure it would only make things worse, and Roy and I were so nervous about you two going overseas together, but I can see we were wrong. In all the years I've known Ed, I've never seen him so relaxed and happy. He's different."
She was right. In the months I'd spent with Edward I'd watched the stone walls of his heart slowly crumble and he softened from an apathetic deadly weapon into a living, breathing, person. A deeply-feeling individual who would do anything for anyone, and had gone far beyond his mission requirements when it came to me. He didn't just keep me alive. He cared for me. He healed me. He empowered my battered self-esteem, breaking off the pieces of metal shielding his heart from the world and giving them to me when I needed their protection, all while expecting nothing in return. He was a good man. Riza broke me out of my reverie when she said,
"I don't know what you've done to him, but whatever it is, keep doing it." She hugged me again fiercely and walked to join Roy as they took their seats next to ours at the head table. Rebecca served as Riza's Maid of Honor, and was the first to call for the room's attention with the clinking of her champagne glass and begin her speech. She was adorable with her big, watery brown eyes and her sniffling to hold back her happy tears as she spoke of her long friendship with Riza and how much it meant to see her happy with Roy. After a few minutes of speaking she finally sat to a wealth of applause, and I knew it was Edward's turn.
"You nervous?" I whispered to him under the applause. He smirked at me and with a wink joked, "I'm petrified". I grinned, watching as he rose from his seat and waited for the applause to die down so that he could begin.
"I was more than surprised," He started calmly. "When I got the phone call that Roy was marrying Riza. Now to clarify, I knew this day was coming because I've been harrassing him about it since I was 16."
He was met with soft laughter throughout the room. "But I was still surprised. Not that he was finally manning up, and not that he was throwing this together so quickly. What surprised me was when he asked me to be his Best Man. Your best man is someone who's always been there through thick and thin. He's the guy who will fight for you tirelessly when he knows you're right, and beat the crap out of you when you need to be taught a lesson, because he cares. The best man is your drinking buddy, your shoulder to cry on, the guy who will be your voice of reason, and the guy who's always been there to dust you off when you fall and shove you back in the ring for round two, because he believes in you. I feel like often times, the best man is the person who's always been there to help you be a better man."
He paused for only a moment, as he looked out at the sea of smiling faces before continuing.
"If I had to guess, I'd say easily two thirds of this room is made up of military members who all know Roy and Riza well. And of those two thirds, maybe half of you know me, and how I'm acquainted with Roy. Roy and Riza are really the greatest people. They've always committed themselves to seeing others succeed, and they both posess a special talent for seeing the opportunity for greatness in the wake of devastation."
I watched him, utterly mesmerized at how comfortable he was speaking to such a large group of intimidating people, and finding myself loving him more and more with each second that ticked by due to the outpouring of devotion he clearly held for Roy and Riza. He drew in a breath and said,
"I was a kid who needed help in the worst of ways. I had no hope for a future at all, but Roy Mustang stepped up and gave me one. Through all the years I've known him, he's fulfilled every duty of a best man almost on a daily basis. He's always been here, pushing me to be great. To strive for more. To reach the potential I never thought I had. I was genuinely surprised when Roy asked me to be his Best Man, because for all I know, he's already beaten me to the punch. He could've done the job for himself because of all the men in this room, and all the men I've ever known, Roy Mustang is by far, the very best man. And I couldn't be happier for him."
The room erupted into thunderous cheers as everyone lept from their seats to applaud and whistle. I was using my napkin to dab the tears from the corners of my eyes as Roy rose from his seat to clap Ed on the shoulder and simply grinned at him. He knew no words were needed. As Edward walked over to embrace Riza I heard her softly say to him,
"We've always seen greatness in you. We couldn't be more proud." He came back and took his seat beside me, and as the band started up to drown out the applause and the waiters appeared with the first courses, I felt cool metal fingers lace themselves with mine under the table.
The party was carrying long into the night, and began to wind down somewhere around 3am. Most of the guests had said their goodbyes earlier, leaving our usual group of close-knits and their dates all sitting together in the hotel lounge sipping brandy, smoking cigars and eating the wedding cake. Shoes were gone, ties were loosened, Riza had shed her veil opting for comfort over formality. Some sat on the floor and some were on the tufted couches. I sat near Rebecca, Sheska, and Maes's wife Gracia who we'd known for years, the ladies flanking the bride as we ate cake and swapped light-hearted gossip back and forth, sneaking occasional glances at the men sitting across from us with their open collars, evening scruff and half empty bottles of scotch. The fireplace crackled mirroring the life between our two animated groups. Mustang looked every bit like a King on his throne in the leather club chair, a glass of Macallan in one hand and a smoldering cigar in the other. Although, from the way the roaring fire danced in his black eyes when he drew on that cigar and smirked at Riza through the smoke, he looked less like a King with his knights and more like a Mob Boss with his scrappy thugs.
"Calm down, Roy." Rebecca teased in her usual playful way as she linked arms with Riza. "We're still having girl time over here, you'll have to wait a little longer before she's all yours." She winked. He smirked at her and said,
"I'd never dream of rushing any of you ladies. I'm a patient man. I've been waiting for over a decade, what's another hour?"
Jean Havoc interrupted him with an incredulous look and said, "Oh fuck off." Followed by the men's laughter and Breda, Feury, and Falman all chiming in with comments such as,
"Yeah I believe you as far as I can throw you."
"You've never held back from trying to rush anyone."
"You're about as patient as an ambulance."
Edward grinned devilishly and leaned back in his chair next to Mustang.
"You didn't wait for shit." He said to Roy with that mischievous look, earning more laughter from the boys and another smirk from Roy. The conversation among friends and good-natured teasing continued for awhile, only faltering when a very tired looking man in a grey suit -no doubt the hotel's manager- walked somewhat nervously over to our group to inquire when we'd be retiring for the evening. It was 4am, and well past my bedtime. As we began to gather up shoes and suit jackets, rocks glasses and frosting smeared plates, we stood and stretched to start saying goodbyes to one another when the hotel manager was joined by another man in another grey suit, this time carrying a slip of folded white paper and presented it to Roy.
"A fax came to the hotel for you, Sir. From Internal Affairs. They asked me to tell you it's urgent." He said. Mustang paused for a moment, staring at the folded paper.
"A fax? They could have just emailed me."
"They asked me to tell you that they tried but you apparently aren't looking at your phone, Sir." Mustang's expressing soured and he took the paper while muttering,
"It's not like I'm getting married today or anything." He unfolded it and scanned the first few lines, then froze. He promptly folded the paper up and slid it into his tux's inner breast pocket.
"What is it?" Riza asked, walking over to him. He smiled down at her lovingly.
"It can wait till tomorrow. Just something I need to look into. I don't want to talk about it until we do some fact checking."
"Let me take care of it." Edward said. "You're going on your honeymoon. Leave it for me and I'll look into it. We'll talk when you get back." Roy shook his head, declining the offer.
Ed walked over to my where I was sitting on the carpet and extended a hand to help me up. I slid my heels back on and we all slowly made our way out of the lounge, saying our goodnights as some headed to the parking lot and some headed to the elevators to go to their rented rooms. When it was just Ed and I alone with Roy and Riza, the four of us walked to the elevator to turn in for the night. The doors slid closed, and that's when Roy spoke again.
"I need to keep this close to the chest for awhile, so this doesn't leave this elevator. Ed, you can answer a question for me to give me head start." He pulled the paper from his jacket to glance at it's contents again before sliding back into hiding and turning to Edward.
"Do you know anyone named Alphonse?"
A/N: home stretch.