Three days after Ed disappeared the rebel group had made it's move. Of course Roy and a few selected soldiers were ready and waiting. Not surprisingly they put up a fight, exchanging gun fire with the military they suffered heavy casualties Rachel Hytem being one of the multiple fatalities. When they realised their only escape route was blocked the rest of the group surrendered quickly arrested and immediately interrogated. It took all night but one man finally caved and gave them the address of a well secluded house on the outskirts of Central City only ten minutes from the bar where this all began. Inside was a vast array of explosives enough to cause damage on a terrifying scale. The remaining survivors of the faction were left in that hands of the Führer. Some were sent to the firing squad others were left to live their days in prison.

Even if others went out to celebrate Roy could not, not without the man who helped it happen, not without Edward.

With the assignment at an end Roy played the depressed, abandoned fiancée rather well. Major Hawkeye did suggest crying, but even she knew that wouldn't suit his image. Yes he may have been extra nice and loving to 'Elizabeth' around this subordinates, but crying was off the agenda. Afterall the last time he cried was when Maes died, and only Hawkeye saw that... He couldn't force himself to cry even if he tried.
Every week Havoc, Breda, Fuery and Fulman would invite him out for drinks in a way to lift his spirits, Riza did join them on occasion. Women came up to Roy still, but he just wasn't interested, he never batted an eyelid towards them. That mission changed him from being a womanizer, to a well respectable gentleman, he wouldn't admit it, but it went with the roll he was playing. At least it gave Havoc a chance...

He was gradually allowed to return back to his former self, as time went by, he met a rather stunning woman at the bar. Long red hair, blue eyes, slim and an all-round lovely person. His team thought it would be best to help him move on and move forward in his life. He hated lying to people, even strangers started to know the story of the woman who couldn't cope, the one who fled. He wasn't interested in people who took pity on him, sure his old self would have played along for a free pass into the woman's bed to mend his 'broken heart', that didn't appeal to him. No woman that approached him appealed in anyway.

Being so much more productive him and Hawkeye were able to go on assignments, sure the Führer wasn't keen on the idea at all what with Roy being next in line to take charge of the military when he finally retires. It kept his mind busy, just sitting in that office was becoming a pain with everyone checking up on him every five minutes to make sure he was alright. In the end Grumman sent him to South City to inspect the officers there, sure it would take him a few days, but it was nice just to be away from central for a bit.

He met up with Alexander Armstrong. He was now a Major General in charge of the south, with his own subordinates. Luckily due to the secrecy he made of the situation the whole 'Elizabeth' thing hadn't reached this far, giving Roy the chance to actually relax. The Major General had really turned the mess that was south city into a pleasant place to be. Either he actually ran things properly or people where scared every time he took his jacket off and flexed those muscles or made statues of himself...

Arriving back in central Havoc collected him from the station. As usual the ride back was quite a chatty one.

"I'm tellin' ya Roy, she has a major crush on me! Just thinking about it give me goosebumps...in a good way of course.."

Roy just grunted, he really didn't want to know who the major picked up the night before, it would usually end in the same way as the rest..

"Ah never asked, do ya want to go to headquarters or your house?"

"Take me home, I'll sort everything out tomorrow."

"Right you are boss."

A short while later they pulled up to the kerb just in front.

"Oh general, you want to come out with me and the boys later? Usual place." Roy stepped out of the car.

"That depends, are you going to use my sob story for you to try to pick up women or match me up with any."

"What? No t-that wasn't me, clearly got the wrong man there sir.." He nervousness showed all over his face.

"Mm hmm...we'll sort it later Major, enjoy your life while you can.." He smirked as he shut the door watching the car drive away, knowing he just put the fear of death in his subordinate.

At last, finally home, his own bed, his own space. He needed the peace and quiet, time with Alex was noisy, as per usual, and then returning back to get Havoc...he made a mental note to get Hawkeye to pick him up again in future.

Unlocking the door and quickly flicking the light switch a huge sigh of relief escaped from his mouth. Hanging up his jacket and un buttoning the top of his shirt he felt much more comfortable as he walked to the kitchen. He was going to have a bite to eat before heading to the bar, the least Havoc could do as punishment was to pay for his drinks. Looking in the cupboards to find them bare he searched the fridge, which was a worser state. It stank badly of out dated food, one of the meats even have a little mould garden growing all over it. Well at least Havoc can also buy him a meal now, he was defiantly going to squeeze as much out of him as he could.

He grabbed his coat ready to leave once more, turning off the lights he just happened to turn round seeing a faint orange glow coming from the back room.

'Was that on when I came in?'

He wasn't going to take any chances. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out one of his ignition gloves, quickly placing it over his bare hand and quietly approached the room. Even the door was open, why didn't he notice this before? He took a moment to brace himself before walking into the room, hand drawn ready to snap at whatever was inside.

His eyes and arm focused at a man on the couch who looked back at him. Blonde hair, golden eyes, red coat, no doubt the man had returned.

"Fullmetal.."

"General, sorry I kind of.. let myself in.." He held up the spare set of house keys Roy had given him months ago. "..forgot to leave them." The two waited in silence for a few moments. "..so...you gonna fry me then?"

"Huh?" Roy suddenly realised his hand was still raised to attack. He lowered his arm and quickly took the glove off, replacing it back into his pocket.

"Grumman said you'd be back today so I thought I'd wait."

"With a lamp on and in silence? Damn it Fullmetal you nearly gave me a heart attack, it's not the best feeling knowing that someone had crept into your house.."

"Sorry, I didn't exactly know what to do. Wait at the door like an idiot, or just leap out from the room and go 'Hey General looks who's back!'"

"Either way you would have got a punch to the face.."

Ed watched the man closely as he poured a scotch, offering it to the younger man before pouring one for himself.

"So where the hell have you been for the past eight months Fullmetal? It would have been nice to have been informed.."

Ed looked to him slightly confused."I thought you knew, it was you who told Grumman that I was here that day. I didn't leave a note because I believed you and him had discussed it ."

The older man shook his head "It wasn't nice searching everywhere to find you suddenly disappeared and took all your stuff with you. Leaving me to have that drink on my own..."

"I'm sorry, I did tell him that I'd leave in the morning, but he was adamant that I had to leave immediately..." He looks to the glass in his hand. "..well at least we are having one now if that's any consolation.."

"Where did you go?"

Ed was now looking into the dark eyes of the man opposite, he did look kind of annoyed. But if he was in the General's shoes he'd probably be the same. "Drachma, your fabricated story came to life. I was ordered to go investigate and collect intelligence for growing concerns that they were going to start a war with Amestris. Kind of ironic if you ask me.." Roy was intent on keeping eye contact for some reason. "So...what happened when I was gone?"

"Well, word got out that I had a fiancée, I'm sure you didn't know about that.."

Ed laughed. "You, a fiancée? Roy Mustang that is unheard of!.." Even the other man finally relaxed and smiled. "Tell me more!"

Roy threw a newspaper at him before he continued. "Well since her sudden up and leaving me I've had to play a heartbroken, depressed man for the past eight months. Of which I've now finally be allowed to come out of..." He looked serious once more. "...eight months Ed, not a letter, not a phone call. Did you not think your boss would want to know where you were and what you were doing, especially since I didn't even set you the assignment"

"Every update had to be straight to the Führer, I thought he'd be keeping you updated as well since you were my superior.."

Mustang shook his head and thought to himself 'He was still annoyed I didn't keep him updated whilst Ed was undercover..'

Ed carefully watched as his superior carefully placing the glass to his lips and took a sip. So many scenarios had run through his head, but he still couldn't tell him. How could he? 'Oh General sir ever since I was undercover my feelings to you have blossomed, I made those kisses deeper as I couldn't control my urges' Everything he said sounded so cheesy.. 'Roy, I meant everything I did, I want to know if you feel the same'

"Ed, are you alright?" The man of his very thoughts snapped him out of his trance.

"Yeah, sorry..mind wondered off." He looked deep into those dark, beautiful eyes once more. "Roy..do you ever think back and thought 'Why didn't I do that?' "

"All the time, but obviously it's in the past now and that's where it stays. You can't dwell on it..You saying you have many regrets Fullmetal, such as joining the military?"

"Obviously when I was young I regretted it sometimes, but you and the others helped me regain me and Al's bodies back. Sure I do have many regrets but there is one that stands out a lot for me...and it's a rather recent one. It's just...it's hard to say it without me sounding like an idiot...but when we were-"

The phone started ringing, Roy didn't notice until several rings later he was too busy staring intently at Edward. "Oh sorry, I'd best get that.."

He walked into the hallway and picked up the receiver. "Mustang"

"Hey General, we've got a scotch here with your name on it, so get ya ass over here and have a drink with us!"

"Havoc, you've only just dropped me off at my home, at least let me rest for a bit.."

"The Great Mustang needs a rest, man you're defiantly getting old.."

Roy looked back to see Ed leaning in the door way. "And you're becoming a pain... I'll skip tonight, I've got reports to finish..just because you seem to get off lightly doesn't mean all of us do.."

"Suit yourself sir, see you Monday."

The line went dead, placing the receiver back he turned towards the blonde man who was still pondering what to say.

"Sorry Ed, you were saying.."

Ed couldn't find the words, if it didn't make sense in his head so how would it sound when it came out of his mouth? The older man walked closer to him.

"So a rather recent regret...I might know what it is..." Ed's eyes widened with surprise. "...because I have that very same regret.."