When he woke he was alone in bed and by how cold the other half of it was Roy had long since gone. He looked over to the clock on the opposite nightstand to see that most of the morning had already gone - he was supposed to report to Grumman first thing. Ed immediately leapt out from under the covers and straight into the shower to wash off the remains of last nights activities before rushing out the front door.

It was good to be back at Central after being absent for months in Drachma and undercover for the rest. It felt good he could finally return to work as himself. The blonde proceeded along the corridors, greeting anyone who said hello, having to apologize that he was in a hurry to see the highest ranked officer in the country.

Unlike how he acted whenever Roy had called him into his office he was was escorted in by the Führer's secretary, waited for permission to approach, saluted the much older man, before standing to attention.

"I'd like to thank you for your work in Drachma Fullmetal. I'm sorry that I asked you to leave at such short notice. But as you well know it was a matter of utmost importance." Opened the file that Ed left him the previous evening. "A very through and descriptive report. I'm glad I chose you for the job. With this knowledge we can defend our boarders even better against any attack." He closed the file again. "I won't keep you any longer Fullmetal, you may resume your duties." The blond saluted his superior once more before turning to head out the door. "Oh Edward." The Führer quickly called to him.

"Yes sir?"

"Are you sure you don't want to take your originally planned time off?"

"Positive sir."

"Well just let me know if you want any leave."

"Will do sir. Is that all?"

"Oh this morning I informed General Mustang of your return to office. He was rather surprised that you were returning so soon after such a long assignment. I did state to him that it was your idea, not mine."

That may have been one thing that may have slipped Ed's mind yesterday... but could you blame him after the evening he had?

xXx

Taking a deep breath he turned the handle and opened the door to be greeted with eight pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Well well, the great wanderer returns!" As usual Havoc was always the first to ignore his work. "Beginning to think you weren't coming back!"

Ed smiled "Well someone has to keep you in line Havoc when the general isn't around. Is he in?"

"Yeah but he's not to be disturbed according to Hawkeye, he seems to have neglected his paperwork once more."

Ed greeted his other colleagues before walking to his desk or at least what was his desk, which was now littered with files, papers, rubbish and magazines. Sweeping whatever litter into the bin he threw the files back on the desk of whomever they belonged to when he stopped and looked to the collection of pornographic magazines neatly piled at the edge.

"Oh yeah, I thought that since you've been gone for so long you've been missing out on some action so feel free to take those, brought them especially for you."

The blonde picked up the top one, no surprise it was porn, this was Havoc after all. "Jean... you saying I haven't had any action in ten months? Just because you don't get any doesn't mean that I don't. Maybe you should keep these, material for yourself for when you get home later.." He picked up the pile and placed them on his colleague's desk, tapping him on the shoulder in a sympathetic way.

"Wait... What? You hooked up with someone while you were away Ed? Come on don't leave me hangin' what's she like?"

"I also don't talk about relationships, you should know better Havoc, some things are just meant to be kept quiet."

"Oh great you're like Roy. You just going to suddenly announce an engagement too?"

"Ed's getting engaged!?" Breda jumped out from his seat, just joining the conversation at the worst possible time.

"NO! I've already done that once and look how that turned out. One failed marriage is enough for me! But what's this about an engagement?"

Havoc laughed "Oh Edward, you missed all the action. About a few weeks after you left this hot chick came to the office looking for the general. A magnificent sight, totally my type. We were hittin' it off like you wouldn't believe! So I did what any noble man would do and invite her out for a drink.. she showed me her engagement ring and then the general came out saying that she was his fiancée! Tell ya what Ed, shock of the century if you ask me. Mustang was whipped, he changed, it were sweet, but scary how lovey dovey they were."

Ed's eyes widened in false shock and disbelief. "Roy Mustang engaged!? I need to see this woman for myself if she can whip the great womanizer and one night stands of Amestris Roy Mustang she must be something unbelievably special!"

The older man shook his head. "No can do Ed, she upped and left him eight months ago, never seen the guy so heartbroken, he's only just started to perk up. Never said the reason why she left, maybe he doesn't even know, but just like.." He snapped his fingers. "..that vanished without a trace. Hard to believe cause the last few days they looked more in love than ever, even the last time we saw 'em together they couldn't keep their hands off like a flamin' teenage couple."

"Can't blame him for being so down about it, but you do that when you get turned down after the first date don'tcha Jean?" The others laughed at Breda's outburst.

Ed looked to the closed office door before looking back to Havoc. "Dread to think what a depressed Roy Mustang is like, but I bet he's already gotten over it and dated a string of women."

That head shook again. "He's not even called one. Staying here late at night and going straight home, sure when we took him to the bar the women flocked around him, but he just didn't care, turned every one of 'em down."

Ed was genuinely surprised at that moment. Roy was a womanizer, a notorious one at that. He had to halt that side of his life whilst the assignment went ahead to make a more believable story. But that had finished months ago..

This trail of thought was instantly put on hold as the creak of the office handle was pushed down and the wooden door opened. The blonde assistant walked out with multiple files and instantly noticed Ed sitting on the edge of his cluttered desk.

"Edward, good to finally see you back."

He smiled at Riza, but before he could reply with an 'It's good to be back.' A second figure stepped out. Roy leant on the door frame, arms folded and looking rather pissed off.

"Ed, ten months may have passed but five hours late for work is still not acceptable."

"C'mon chief go easy on him, he's only just got here give the guy some credit."

Roy's eyes turned to the pile of magazines to the side of Jean. "Havoc... If I see those magazines one more time I will burn them until there was nothing left." He looked to Ed once more. His voice more demanding like an order on the battlefield. "My office... now."

The blonde did as he was told and entered the room, positioning himself to a moderate attention in front of his superior's desk. He couldn't help but flinch as the General slammed his office door hard behind him.

"I wouldn't have been late if you woke me.." His eyes followed Roy as he went to sit back at his desk.

Roy signed the last pages of his paperwork and looked him. "Well someone didn't think to tell me that they were coming straight back to work. I only found out when I came into work this morning. You had a long and exhausting journey topped with last nights activities I felt it was best to just let you sleep in and come in when you were ready. That out there in front of the others was to keep up appearances. Don't want them to think I'm going soft."

"They already think something is strange when you keep rejecting women."

"What can I say, Elizabeth tamed me and I found someone I'd rather spend much more then one night with, but they don't need to know that."

Both men smiled at each other.

"I'd best get back to my duties. I've got a back log of paperwork to catch up on what with my long absence."

Roy nodded as Ed turned and made his way to the door. Just as he began to open it a forced pushed it back into the latch. It caught the blonde off guard as it slammed loudly. He turned round to see Mustang standing directly behind him and didn't get another thought as the older man leaned in and captured his lips in a soft and lingering kiss. He immediately backed Ed completely against the door as his free hand which wasn't keeping the door in place cupped the blonde's cheek, stroking the tanned skin with the pad of his thumb. Just as Ed was getting into the full swing of it The Flame broke the contact and rested his forehead on the Elrics.

"I've been wanting to do that since I woke up.." He practically whispered as their noses grazed against the others. They kissed a few times more, their mouths delicately moved against the others.

They parted again and without words Roy backed away from the door allowing Ed to open it once more. They took one more look and smiled at the other before the blonde stepped through the threshold and closed the door.

All eyes were on him as he took his seat and released noisy breath. The others didn't ask what happened in there, no doubt the slamming of doors was enough for them. But if he was going to be late in the future maybe it wouldn't be that much of a bad idea..