My apologies, but the first chapter of this story was originally incorrectly uploaded. It's fixed now, but if this continuation doesn't quite make sense, chances are you read the wrong version of chapter one, so you might have to go back and read the right one. Again, sorry!
Roy took a deep breath, smoothing his hair back. It didn't make any sense that he would be nervous; of course Ed would say yes. Maybe it was just the fact that he knew the boy wouldn't be the only one watching…
But it was too late to back down now. He'd pulled countless strings, and now, on his and Edward's one year anniversary, Roy was waiting for the cameraman to show up. As soon as he got here, it was time.
Roy ignored the stares of his team as he leaned against his office door, staring down the hallway. He glanced up, checking the clock—still plenty of time before Ed's show started.
There! Movement in the hallway, the cameraman juggling his equipment. Roy hurried over to help him, earning himself a muttered, "Thanks." He turned to his team, who had all stopped what they were doing to watch.
"I have some business to attend to in my office. Do not interrupt." Satisfied, Roy opened his office door, ushered the cameraman in, and closed it again, being sure to lock the knob behind him.
"How long 'til it's time?" he asked.
The cameraman checked his watch. "Ten minutes or so. I'll get this all set up, you just prepare yourself." He flashed a smile in Roy's direction. "Nervous?"
"Yes, oddly enough," he murmured in response, standing in front of his desk. "I mean, I know he'll say yes, but…"
"Doing it on live TV is a little hard, huh?"
Roy nodded, scowling slightly. It shouldn't be this difficult, this nerve wracking. But still, it was. He turned around, grabbing a cup from his desk and taking a gulp of water. The last thing he needed was to croak out a proposal. He fingered the box in his pocket gently, being sure for the thousandth time that it was still there. Of course, the ring wouldn't just disappear, but Roy couldn't help checking.
Just then, his door clicked oddly and swung open to reveal Breda crouching down, having picked the lock, surrounded by the rest of the team. The man raised his hands up. "Now don't get mad, but you can't just bring a camera in here and expect us not to wonder."
Behind him, Hawkeye nodded. "Sir, this is a serious breach of protocol."
The cameraman snorted and looked at Roy. "Six minutes to show time."
"Show time?" Havoc inquired, grinning devilishly. "What exactly is going on in here, hmm?"
Roy brought a hand to his forehead, thinking quickly. It would take too much time to get the team out of his office, curious as they were, and he'd probably get a bit ruffled in the process. His face reddened slightly as he realized he would have to own up
Roy sighed. "Look, I'm…I'm proposing to Edward, alright?" This announcement was met with several open mouths, two mutters of, "Damn," and a single squeal that he suspected came from Falman. "So if you all could just let me get to it, that would be great—"
"Hell no!" Havoc shouted, cigarette falling from his lips in his excitement. "You can't expect us to miss this, we want to watch!" Mutters of agreement.
A quick glance at the clock: three minutes. Fuck. "Fine!" Roy hissed. "But don't say a word. I've been planning this for two weeks, you wouldn't believe the fuss I had to make, and if you fuck it up I will flay you."
Hawkeye recovered from his speech first, standing at attention and saluting. "Sir, yes, sir!" She was quickly copied by the rest of them, each of them smiling as they gave him their support.
Roy exhaled slowly and turned to face the camera.
"One minute," the cameraman announced, ignoring the cluster of people crowding behind him. "Remember, look at the camera; pretend it's your guy. You don't want to be looking to the side. You got this."
Roy must have been quite a mess if the cameraman had to reassure him. Nevertheless, he nodded, taking the advice to heart, and stared into the center of the lens, slipping his hand into his pocket.
"And three, two, one…"
"Edward?"
Ed almost had a heart attack when he heard Roy's voice. What, he was home early again? Very early, too, what was that all about? He walked into the living room, calling out, "You know, you could just tell me you're going to get off instead of scaring the living—"
Roy wasn't in the room, not physically. But he was staring right at Edward through the screen of their TV, broadcasting from his office at Headquarters. The man looked almost stiff, despite his casual pose with one hand on his desk and the other in his pocket, and his hair was slicked back (which was, admittedly, very attractive). Ed's mouth hung open, slack, as Roy continued to speak.
"I'm going to give you a moment to make sure you're in the room, because I have something very important I want to say—well, ask—and I need you to pay attention, Ed." On the screen, Roy smiled sincerely, but his eyes gave away his nerves.
Edward sat down on the couch slowly, never taking his eyes from the TV, heart speeding up. It wasn't lost on him that today was their anniversary, but whatever this was that Roy had cooked up was more than he had expected.
"Ed, I'm not going to lie, love is a really new concept for me. I've only had a year with you to experience it, but that was enough to tell me what I need to know: that I'm never going to want anyone else. There's no way I could ever love anyone else the same way I love you. I—" the man broke off, gave a nervous chuckle. "I want to spend forever with you, Ed."
Edward tried to control his breathing, a hand coming up to his mouth. This was so…unlike Roy. It wasn't like the man couldn't be romantic, but saying something like that…and on TLC, just before Say Yes to the Dress came on…well, it was more than a little strange. Ed tried not to let his thoughts run away, but he couldn't help it. This sounded an awful lot like a—
"This is live, Ed, so just…call me with your answer." On screen, Roy took a deep breath and got down on one knee, the camera following him. Edward started to hyperventilate as he pulled a velvet box out of his pocket, opening it up to reveal a ring.
"Edward Elric…will you marry me?"
A sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob escaped Ed's lips. He jumped up, running to grab the phone, happy tears beginning to run down cheeks that were aching with the force of his smile. He misdialed twice in his haste, and finally, finally the phone began to ring, echoed on the TV. Edward sprinted back into the living room, almost falling down as he watched Roy answer.
"Ed?"
"Yes," he tried, but all that came out was air. He couldn't breathe, he was so ecstatic, so excited. On the screen, Roy's face turned to concern.
"Ed?" the man asked again. "Are you okay?"
"Yes!" he said again, with much more success. "Yes, yes, yes!" Edward couldn't stop repeating the word, laughing and crying all at the same time. "Of course I'll marry you!"
Roy's face lit up as he stared at the camera, and a muffled cheering came from somewhere off screen. "I'm coming home, Ed. I love you."
"I love you too!" He watched as Roy hung up and waved at the camera before fading off. Edward fell onto the couch, hugging a pillow. Had that really just happened? He was—he was engaged!
Ed wiped his hands impatiently across his face, smearing his tears, and picked up the phone. He just had to call Alphonse.
Roy sagged, laughing in relief as the cameraman signaled that he was off. He'd done it! He'd really done it! He was going to marry Edward…
He didn't get to think long, because suddenly he was at the center of a massive group hug—something distinctly out of character for his team, but he couldn't blame them for being caught up in the moment.
"Alright, alright, let me go!" He pushed a quietly weeping Fuery gently to the side. "Thank you," Roy said sincerely, turning towards the cameraman.
"Hey man, no problem. I'm happy for ya."
Roy nodded, then looked at the box in his hand. "Lieutenant, do you mind escorting this young man out? I think it's about time I gave Ed his ring."
So I almost cried writing this, sap that I am. Someone who reads this better be right there with me.