June 26th, 1996

Bringing Bonnie and the triplets home from the hospital was almost a bigger production than some movie sets Ian had been on. Or at least, that was how it felt when they came home a week after delivery. In order to accommodate their family, Ian had gone out with his father—the resident vehicle expert—and found and purchased a family van, which would be essential to properly and safely transport their now family of seven anytime they all wanted to leave the house.

They had also agreed that arriving home was a good enough time for a little meet-the-babies gathering with other family members, though the list was still small. Grandpa Ed, Grandma Winry, Alphonse and Elicia were invited, of course. They were leaving to go back to Resembool in a few days, but had stayed longer just to make sure they were here for the babies. Ian was still a little awed that his grandparents never seemed to get tired of welcoming new great-grandchildren.

The other invitees were Ted and Anika and the boys. Not that the house looked much like they were hosting a party when he and Bonnie arrived home with the babies. Rebecca Walsh and his mother had also come along to help carry babies and supplies home from the hospital, so the van was full as Ian pulled up to the house.

Unloading the van seemed to happen in a flash, however, as family descended upon the car and collected bags in what seemed like moments. Bonnie, her mother, and his mother all claimed an infant, and Ian found himself with empty hands as he bemusedly followed them all inside.

Joanna and Zachary were standing by the couch with Anika and her boys, all of the children waiting eagerly to meet the babies. While Ian's older two had been allowed to come to the hospital to see their mother twice that week, they hadn't been able to touch their brothers and sister, and a few glimpses was simply not enough.

The spread of food on the table had clearly not been prepared by anyone currently staying in his house, Ian thought as he saw that lunch had been provided. Which meant that he knew who must have done it. He looked at Grandma Winry, who beamed at him and gave a small nod.

In the chaos, Bonnie was quickly settled on the couch—she said she was entirely too sick of the chair, and it was easier to keep all three infants closer on the couch—with Samantha in her arms. The two grandmothers sat on either side, his mother with Leith, and Rebecca with Donovan, so that everyone could meet them, starting with the children.

"You're in for it now," Ted came up beside him, grinning but looking a little wide-eyed as he looked at the scene in front of them.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." But there was no real snark in Ian's tone. He was feeling much the same. "I've been pestering Dad and Art for every scrap of advice they have on handling this many kids at once and I still feel utterly unprepared, even though I know we're as ready as we could be." He looked over at his youngest brother. "Are you sure you want to risk trying for a third?" he teased back. He knew that Anika was definitely interested, from what Ted had said a couple of months back.

"I'm not sure I have much say in this one," Ted admitted, keeping his voice low. Not that the delighted chatter of the four kids meeting the babies didn't keep the conversation private. "Not that I mind, really. The boys are great, and I'm enjoying fatherhood so far." Yet there was an unsaid 'but' hanging out there. Ted didn't add it though. Instead, he grinned. "Fortunately, you've already taken the shock hit for the family, so I guess I don't need to worry about us getting the random multiples."

"You know it doesn't work that way," Ian pointed out, rolling his eyes. "Not that the chances are any more likely for you either way," he acknowledged. As far as Ethan and Ren had ever been able to determine, it was random chance: three eggs released at some point instead of one. There were many factors that could have caused it. He was glad he'd gotten alchemically sterilized since they'd found out about the triplets. The very last thing they needed was to risk any more children.

"I just hope Anika doesn't decide that we need more than three." Ted was watching them intently as the kids were herded away with the distraction of a game and food. Anika descended on the newborns faster even than Winry and Elicia, who each got the honor of holding a triplet.

At least no one will ever complain they don't get a grandchild to play with.

The click of a camera made Ian looked over. His father had the frame of mind to remember to pull out the camera and take pictures of the whole thing. Ian hadn't even thought about it. Not that he had slept much the past week after passing out the first night. Figuring out how to consistently get enough food into triplets, then burp and change them, had proven to be time consuming and exhausting, even when they had all figured out how to nurse with minimal trouble. There had been a little fighting with being willing to take a bottle at first, but after much discussion with the nurses, and his mother, and even Aunt Lia—who had come in one evening, with her experience actually feeding multiples—they had discovered that in the long run, likely the best plan was going to be for Bonnie to pump out most of her breastmilk, so that all three children could be fed with bottles. They would be less likely to fuss with less swapping back and forth, and it would be easier to supplement with formula mixed in as needed. It would also make it easier to tell exactly how much milk each baby was getting.

Ian had never realized until this week exactly how complicated just feeding the babies would be. Singletons had been so much simpler in comparison.

"You should get something to eat."

Startled, Ian realized that while he was watching, Ted had joined the group and Grandpa Edward had come up beside him. From his grandfather's usual smug grin, he had a feeling Edward could almost read his mind. Not that he supposed his thoughts were likely to be at all original. Surely any father faced with multiple infants at once had many of these same thoughts.

As soon as Edward spoke, Ian realized his stomach was growling. Breakfast had been a long time ago. "Good idea," he agreed. "Thanks for helping get all this ready."

Edward shrugged. "You should really thank Winry and Elicia, because they did most of the planning. As usual, Alphonse and I were just the assistants and the wallets. But you're welcome. We figured we could at least do this for you before we go back to Resembool in a few days. I'm glad we got to see them."

"You haven't even held one yet," Ian pointed out as he picked up a plate and eyed the options.

"I'm not worried about that." Edward chuckled. "With three of them, eventually I'll get a turn."

Standing upstairs in the bedroom of their new house, Bonnie was relieved that finally, after months of waiting, they were all home, and she was finally going to get to sleep in the same bed as Ian again. Being able to take the stairs this evening had felt like a miracle after spending so many nights downstairs in the chair. Not that she didn't expect to spend a lot of time in chairs feeding babies, but it had felt so good to know that she could move so much more freely, even after only a week. The worst of the soreness from delivering was gone, even if there were still other aches and discomforts that would go away eventually.

After their guests had departed for the night, her parents had insisted on doing the dishes, and Aldon had taken charge of getting a very excited Joanna and Zachary ready for bed, while Cassie had helped Ian bathe and prepare Leith, Samantha, and Donovan for their first night in their new home. Bonnie had then gone to work expressing milk so they could feed the babies with bottles. It meant that Ian would be able to do more helping, and the idea of not having to do all the night feedings with three infants had been the only convincing she really needed to agree to make sure they got used to the bottles.

There had, it turned out, thankfully been plenty for the comparatively small amounts they were currently eating almost precisely every two hours. Bonnie had never had trouble providing enough milk for one baby at a time, with extra, and so far, she had been able to keep the three sated, though she didn't know if she could make enough when they got bigger. Her breasts certainly seemed to be trying though.

After getting the babies fed, Ian and others had tackled burping and changing, and Bonnie had been magically free to take a long, luxurious shower, change into her own comfortable nightgown, and now, for a few blessed minutes, the house seemed quiet and she didn't have to see to the needs of someone besides herself.

"Will you let me live if I intrude on your first moments of solitude?" Ian poked his head in the door, and smiled at her.

Bonnie smiled back. "I suppose I could do that. As long as you promise to snuggle up with me."

"I would be delighted, though I might fall asleep the moment I hit that pillow," Ian admitted as he came into the room, closing the door behind him. "Mom said there's enough milk left after what you pumped to handle the next feeding, and that she and your mother will handle it, and we're both ordered to pass out and sleep for as long as we need. If they run out of breastmilk, they'll stretch it with the formula."

Their mothers were angels. "So, I'm being ordered to bed to sleep with some hot actor?" she teased coyly.

Ian snorted. "Bonnie, my love, delight of my soul and body… you could be naked right now and I wouldn't have the energy to do more than curl up with you and pass out. The only thing about me that's hot right now is my burning desire for sleep… with you curled up in my arms," he added the last, which was broken by a convincing yawn.

Not that Bonnie could blame him. Ian had been as amazing this week as ever. "Fortunately for you, that's precisely what I desire." She crossed the room and hugged him. It felt so good to fit in his arms again, even if the hug was still gentle to avoid unnecessary squishing discomfort. Ian wrapped his arms around her. "Tonight, for just a little bit, it's just you and me." And if their parents were handling all the kids, she was going to sleep until somebody woke her, which she hoped wasn't for at least four or five hours.

She could feel Ian's breath stirring the hair on top of her head. "Sounds perfect," he murmured. "It's been lonely in here without you."

July 1st, 1996

"I don't know why you insist on this," Edward complained as Ethan finished his alchemical check-up. Of course, the statement wasn't true. He knew full well that Ethan knew Edward did not enjoy seeing doctors without need, and without an alkahestry trained physician of Ethan's skill consistently in Resembool there was information regular physicians simply didn't have. Mostly, he knew his son worried, and it was as much to reassure him as anything else that he insisted on giving him—and Winry, Alphonse, and Elicia—an in-depth examination.

"You say that every time," Ethan retorted. He and Lia had been back from Resembool for several days from their trip down for the opening of the research facility and visiting family. Now, they were all sitting around Ethan and Lia's new living room, supposedly to just enjoy one last visit before Edward and the rest headed back to Resembool.

"Are you convinced I'm still alive now?" Edward didn't really want more reminders that he was old. He'd been old for years, and while he was still in better shape than most people his age, he didn't like how much more limited he felt compared to even ten or twenty years ago.

"After everything that happened this winter and spring, I'm actually impressed," Ethan admitted as he stood back, looking thoughtful. "All of you are in good health, thankfully, but…"

"But?" Winry asked curiously from her seat beside Edward.

Ethan shook his head. "Okay so, I have a bit of a hypothesis, but it might take some explaining. Dad, I know you told me that you and Uncle Al are just normal and human, even though Grandpa Hohenheim had a nearly immortal body thanks to alchemy that none of us can ever duplicate."

"Well, I'm definitely not hundreds of years old," Edward quipped, though he had to admit he was curious where Ethan was going with his train of thought. "But yeah. Hohenheim made that very clear. I asked him."

"What if he was wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Alphonse asked.

Edward almost choked on his own tongue at that question, but Alphonse had already asked what he was thinking.

"Not entirely wrong," Ethan amended. "I just mean, maybe he didn't have all the facts. We know a lot more about bloodlines and genes than we did a century ago, or during any of the centuries during which Grandpa lived. Let me preface this with the fact that while Mom and Aunt Elicia are in spectacular shape and health for women their age—"

"Thank you," Winry smiled at her son. Elicia just grinned from her seat nearby.

"—but you and Al, especially when examined on an alchemical level… well you really shouldn't be in as good a shape as you are for your age, or after everything you've been through. Not that I'm not grateful for that, but compared to other patients your age—even patients in Xing on record as having some of the best alkahestry treatments their whole lives, with minimal trauma—you still have the organs and natural rejuvenation from illness and trauma of men twenty or thirty years younger than you."

"And do you have any idea why?" Edward was definitely intrigued now. Though if he was really in that good a condition, he hated to think what that meant for normal men who reached his age. He thought of Old Bao, and then of deceased friends who had lived even close to this long.

"I do. I think that, when Grandpa's body was enhanced or changed by the alchemy, whatever was actually done to him, in order to do that it must have been changed on a molecular level… on the very level of his creation itself. To do that, it would have had to have changed the genes themselves. If it changed his whole body, that means it also changed his reproductive systems, and we really can't say that he didn't pass on traits to you and Al that are not just traditional Xerxian traits. Of course, we don't have anyone else to test that theory on, but it would explain why after everything your bodies have dealt with, you don't look quite as old as most men your age, and you're still in generally good physical shape. The fact that, at your age, the worst you're dealing with is colds and not having the energy stores you used to, or some of the resiliency to emotional trauma… well it's not normal."

"No one's ever accused either of us of being normal," Alphonse replied with a chuckle. "It's certainly possible. What do you think, Ed?"

"I'd never considered it," Edward admitted. He spent too much time griping to himself about being old, rickety, and achy. He didn't feel younger than his age. But then, how would he know? It made a lot of sense. "I think I have to agree that it's not impossible. Though if that were the case, some of that might have passed down to you, Sara, and Aldon as well."

"Not as much, and possibly not in equal amounts, but I had considered that," Ethan grinned. "And down into our children, and grandchildren, as well. The Elric line may have more going for it than a heavy leaning towards male children and golden hair and eyes." He sat back and stood full up from the crouched position.

"Don't forget the need to eat like starving wolves," Elicia chimed in.

"That's not all of us," Alphonse objected.

"Just most," Lia quipped, looking notedly at Ethan, who just shrugged and grinned back at her.

"Is there any way to prove it?" Edward asked as he reached for the glass of juice he hadn't finished from earlier.

"Not without Grandpa or someone else to really compare it to," Ethan admitted. "And I don't even know if it means you'll live longer than you would otherwise, or longer than people who don't share your direct bloodline."

"Given how many times I've almost died, I think I've already long outlived any extra years I had a right to," Edward replied as he slipped an arm around Winry's shoulder. "And I intend to keep doing it for as long as I can."

July 2nd, 1996

Clarina couldn't help feeling nervous most of the day at work, knowing what was coming that evening. Yes, it was her plan. Yes, she had help working out every step of what was supposed to happen, and she was prepared to follow through with a potentially dangerous infiltration of the enemy if it worked. That didn't mean she wasn't afraid of what could go wrong.

Or nervous about trying to perform what was, in essence, an unwanted seduction scene with Ted Elric. Which was also her idea, despite the fact she had spent most of the past several years avoiding him. Even when she had stopped actively avoiding him, she had never sought him out. Their interactions, post the dissolution of their team, had been strictly professional. She had preferred it that way.

And now she was going to have to put up with him pretending to seduce her so that she could convince someone who might be Vera that Ted was not only still an ass deserving of her hatred, but that he was enough to push Clarina into defecting. The sad part was, Clarina was almost certain that if it really was Vera they were calling UV, this plan would work. At least, it would get her attention. The second part—her suspiciously seeming to be working on some possible revenge—might take longer to play out, but should also be convincing.

This also assumed that Strobe and the other alchemist stuck to their plan. While trying not to attract notice, Clarina had been able to at least find out which section of Lab Two they were assigned to, and where they had possibly been coming from that they passed her team's work room on the way out.

The deep cleaning would start on the top floor and work its way down. Seeing as her work room was on the third floor of seven, the floor should be almost entirely deserted for most of the evening once everyone left at seventeen-hundred hours. Except her, and the basic building security… and Ted, who had come in near the very end of the day to deliver a highly sensitive report—supposedly—and then had cleverly hung around out of the way for the last hour until the building closed.

So, Clarina was ready when Ted showed up in her workroom. Fortunately, he looked completely normal and, if possible, almost as nervous as she felt. "Thanks for this," she said, for lack of anything more meaningful or useful to open with. They had planned it all out that day in Tringham's office, and hadn't talked sense because no one could know they were on speaking terms.

Clarina almost wished they still weren't on speaking terms. Not that she hated Ted. To the contrary, she had never hated him. Not the way Vera did. Nor did she blame him for Larry's death or even the loss of her arm. They had all been responsible, and in combat. There was no way to be sure who had missed the bomb that had nearly killed them all, because they all had. But she hadn't been convinced at the time that it hadn't been her fault, and she'd been in agony when her arm was gone, and embarrassed, and frustrated by the fact that no matter how much she had tried, Ted had been too focused on the girl who obviously preferred his cousin to notice her as more than a friend. By the time he had professed any real interest, she'd gotten over him. Or at least, resigned herself to the fact that they were not meant to be together that way. Still, avoiding him entirely had been easier.

Being alone like this was beyond awkward.

"No problem," Ted replied with a smile. "It's a good plan you came up with. I wish I didn't have to be the villain, but you're right… it's what I'm expected to be, if this is who we think it is. So, have you seen our suspects today?"

Clarina nodded. "They came in right on time, and I didn't see them leave. So, they may be hiding out somewhere in here as well. We should proceed as planned." Which meant wait very quietly in here, then start the performance when they heard them coming.

Ted nodded. "Guess we should get ready."

In order to make it look more convincing, it needed to at least sound and look like a legitimate attempted seduction, but not something that crossed the line too far. Clarina watched as Ted reached up and mussed his hair. The front of it anyway. The back was long enough to be pulled back in tail that she knew looked much like the way his grandfather and his uncle wore theirs. Though it wasn't as long. Then Ted opened his jacket.

Clarina took a calming breath, and then pulled the tie out of the end of her braid, and let it start to come apart naturally. She didn't try to force it. Then she reached up and pulled several strands of the longer parts of her layered bangs out of the top of the braid so she looked a bit mussed herself. She didn't take off her jacket, but she did undo the top button. They had already discussed that Ted might need to tear a couple off to be convincing, but he had promised to repair everything with alchemy when it was over.

Ted pulled a small bottle out of his coat, though for the moment he just set it on the table. They had agreed it would be more convincing if he smelled like he'd been drinking. She noticed that the bottle of Aerugean rum still had the seal on top. Well, at least it was good to know he hadn't touched it yet. She would not have been comfortable with this if he was actually intoxicated.

Ted wouldn't do that to me. All of the reports she had heard on him since their team's dissolution was that he was a hard-working alchemist, a loyal teammate, and the only trouble he'd gotten into—aside from a few of his hairbrained schemes that always seemed to work out—was when he'd disappeared for months and come back from Drachma with Anika. The official report on that said it had been an undercover mission at President Heimler's request, but there had still been a courts-martial hearing over it. Perhaps because he hadn't been supposed to bring back Drachmans. Still, Clarina privately believed the story that he had gone AWOL to rescue the woman he had fallen in love with on his previous mission. It was an incredibly Ted like thing to do.

And nothing she had seen or heard since then made her think any differently. He was obviously still head-over-heels for his wife. Clarina honestly felt terrible even using this ploy, and was impressed that Anika had agreed.

"Smudge your mouth," Ted suggested. He was done now, and looking at her consideringly. "It'll look like I forced you to kiss me."

Which also implied he had no intention of actually kissing her, not even for the deception. Somehow, that made her feel more relaxed about it.

Clarina pulled out a tissue and did as he suggested, smudging her lipstick so it smeared just a little. It wasn't a very dark color, seeing as she preferred natural ones, but it was visibly different. "That work?"

Ted nodded. "Looks good."

Then, they waited. Clarina wished there was something they could do to pass the time, but they needed to be generally invisible until their targets were almost on top of them. She turned off all the lights except the lamp over her desk, as if she was almost done for the day but had worked late despite the orders to leave early. They left the door ever so slightly ajar…and they waited.

Almost forty minutes later, she heard their targets coming down the hall, talking, and recognized the same voices. Another reference to UV gave them away.

Clarina sat down on the edge of one of the clean work tables near her desk, and leaned back. Ted placed both hands on either side of her, as if he had her cornered against the table. In the darkness, he seemed incredibly close. She could smell his aftershave, and the waft of rum on his breath from the single small swig he had taken before hiding the bottle. In the dark, his golden eyes almost seemed to glow.

At her nod, Ted started. It was like watching someone else come out of him, and the drunken, lecherous leer on his face made her swallow. "Come on, babe," he said at a totally normal volume, as if he didn't care if anyone heard. "You know you want to."

In the hallway, the footsteps had stopped cold.

Clarina put an arm against his chest. They might look through the windows. "No, Ted!" she said in the same normal tone. It took all her effort not to whisper. "I told you I'm not interested! Now get off!" Make it sound imminent, like it's gone farther than it has.

"I don't think so," he chuckled, leaning in over her. "I saw the way you were looking at me earlier. I know you're still interested." One hand came up, caressing the side of her cheek.

Clarina shuddered, and it wasn't feigned. Breathe…. Dear gods breathe. He's acting. He's just better than you expected. His brother's a professional. "That's egotistical," she retorted, and the slight squeak was real too. "Besides, you're married. What would your wife think?"

"Like she'd ever know." Ted's fingers tangled in her hair. "You wouldn't tell her. Your reputation would be mud."

"So would yours!"

"As if they'd believe it." Ted sounded completely convincing as he snorted derisively. "I outrank you, Major. Beautiful… but just a major. Everyone knows how much I love my wife." The last had a slightly bitter sound to it. A nice touch, as if there was something maybe wrong there.

Clarina pushed back against him a little harder. They had purposefully picked this angle to make it just hard enough for anyone to see what was really going on. But Ted was playing it awfully real. "Then go home to her and have someone who wants you."

"And there you're assuming the feeling is still mutual." Ted let a slight slur enter his voice. "C'mon Clarina, baby…. Just a kiss. Maybe a little cuddle." He leaned in until he was almost on top of her though he wasn't pressing down as hard as he would have been were he really coming after her. At least, she didn't think so.

Still, it did take a very hard shove for her to get him off as she shouted, sounding more terrified, "Stop it! I said no!" Then she reached out and full arm smacked him in the face. The resounding crack could not be faked, and they had agreed to the slap in advance, but she still felt a shock through her arm as her hand connected, and at the throbbing red mark it left behind on his cheek.

She didn't stop. Instead, she knocked against a couple of tables of trays on her way out, to make more noise as she scrambled for the door, tore it open, and burst into the hallway.

The two alchemists were only a few feet from the door, and they stared at her in shock as she staggered out—conveniently tripping a little on her shoe.

Clarina kept in character, and ignored them as if she were too panicked to register, they were there. She stood there only long enough for them to get a good look at her face before she took off running down the hall.

Behind her, she heard the door slam open again, but her part in this was to keep running until she was out of sight, then make her way out of the building and go home as normal. If the seed was properly planted, they would find out eventually.

SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK SCENE BREAK

Ted had forgotten how strong Clarina was, though part of that was her unfair use of her auto-mail hand. He was grateful she had smacked him with the flesh one, and only used the other to shove at him. Not that he'd been putting much of his weight on her. Pushing him off had been easy.

He let her get to the edge of the door, a simple five count, before bellowing, "Get back here, Clarina!" And staggering out the door, doing his best to look much drunker than he was—which was to say, not at all. He had only taken enough earlier to wet his mouth and lend the smell to the disguise. The small bottle was tucked tightly back up inside his uniform. He strode into the hall as if he owned the place, looked around to find her already out of site, and then locked his glare on the two alchemists in the hallway.

Both of them were staring, wide-eyed. One of them held an innocuous looking samples container. There were hundreds of them in the facility.

Ted fixed a glower on them. "What the hell are you two doing here?" He even managed a small hiccup. Ian should give me an award for this performance. "The building's supposed to be empty except the cleaning staff upstairs."

It was Strobe who recovered first. "Just leaving…Sir." He frowned at him.

"I don't like your tone, soldier," Ted replied, frown deepening. "Get out of here before I have to report you. And if you say anything about this to anyone, you'll be in even bigger trouble. Got that, Majors?"

They both looked like they were torn between coming to Clarina's defense, or getting out with their mission intact. As Ted expected, they were more afraid of whoever UV was, than a drunken Colonel hitting on a colleague.

"Yes, Sir," they chorused with clearly fake meekness.

"Good." Ted pulled the door shut on the lab, and then stalked off down the hallway with a slight wobble at one point, following the route he knew Clarina had taken, which was the most direct route downstairs.

As planned, he didn't see her all the way out of the building. Thankfully, he didn't pass anyone in the hallways as he went down to the first floor, and out a side window that he opened, and shut, and relocked with alchemy before slipping off into the night. Hopefully no one else saw him. He hoped Clarina was all right. He had thankfully not had to get rough with her, but she had been clearly uncomfortable even pretending to be in that situation.

With nothing to do for it, Ted headed home. When he got there, Anika was waiting up. The boys were in bed.

"How did it go?" she asked, looking concerned.

"As planned to the letter," Ted assured her as he took off his uniform jacket and sat down on the bench just inside their door that was there for the purpose of removing his boots. "Which meant we didn't have to pull out any of the riskier moves. I barely touched her."

"That's not actually what I meant," Anika replied. "Though I appreciate knowing you didn't have to paw all over some other woman for your job."

"Never." He pulled off one boot, then the next. "We shocked the thieves in the act, and made sure they heard us and got good looks. Since we let them get away, they'll almost certainly report it to their upline as a great success, including seeing us together. If this is Vera, at some point Clarina will know, but the rest of this is her mission. I shouldn't be involved any further, which makes me very happy." He stood up again, and pulled Anika into a hug. "Having to pretend to be that much of an ass to a woman was incredibly uncomfortable."

Anika smiled as she hugged him back. "I, for one, am also very glad you are not really an ass, and that it made you uncomfortable. Now, come, I kept some dinner for you. I'll rewarm it."

"Great!" He had eaten a snack, but having been in the building all evening, Ted hadn't had anything substantial in hours, and his stomach was definitely growling. "I could use the energy."

"I know," Anika's smile widened, and Ted realized that despite the intense evening he had just had, he was not getting out of pre-sleep activities. She kissed his cheek, then released him and headed for the kitchen. "You're going to need it."

July 5th, 1996

Ted couldn't believe he was making this call—especially from headquarters—but he couldn't think of anyone else to ask who might take his questions seriously. He hoped his brother was home in the middle of the afternoon. He was just grateful that being a Colonel ranked him a small office with a door on it.

The phone picked up on the third ring and, for once, Ted recognized his brother's voice immediately instead of Deanna, or one of the kids. "Hello?"

"Hey, Art."

There was a moment's startled quiet on the other end. "Ted? Well, this is a surprise. What's up?

A lot, and it's awkward. "Do you have a minute? I've got a... situation, and I need some advice."

"You know, I think the last time you asked me for advice on anything you were what, seven?"

"Probably," Ted conceded.

"I take it this is a parenting question?"

If only it were that simple. "Kind of. It's more of a... wife question."

"I'll help if I can," Art replied, sounding vaguely perplexed. Ted couldn't blame him. This was not a topic of conversation regularly between them as brothers. "What's going on?"

Ted felt himself flushing red even though he was just asking a question over the phone. "When you were still having kids... how many of them were Deanna's idea?"

Reichart chuckled. "I appreciate your assumption that there was much forethought there."

"I know you and Deanna were talking about kids even before you got married," Ted pointed out. "So, I figured... oh I don't even know how to ask what I'm trying to ask."

"Anika wants another one, doesn't she?" Reichart asked, catching on. While Ted had mentioned it to Ian, since they saw each other all the time, he hadn't really mentioned it to anyone else in the family. Especially since he rarely had a chance to call Urey and Reichart these days.

"It's like she's obsessed!" Ted admitted, wishing there wasn't a note of desperation in his tone. What kind of man complained about his wife wanting to have sex with him on an almost daily basis? "I don't think I've had an evening to myself at home in months."

"Okay, I get it." Reichart sounded amused, but also sympathetic. Maybe. "And yes, I've been relegated to breeding stud a couple of times during our marriage. We never would have had seven if Deanna wasn't willing. She'd have gelded me first otherwise."

Which was pretty much what Ted had assumed. Deanna was hardly the shy type. She wouldn't have been able to keep up with seven kids if she were. "Was she ever crazy about it?"

"Only early on. Once we'd had a couple, she was much more relaxed about just letting them happen when they happened. But if she decided we needed another one, there was no way I was getting out of it." Reichart sounded amused, if also resigned. "Not that I objected, obviously. But the question is, how do you feel about it?"

"It's not that I don't want another kid. I'm fine with that part," Ted admitted. He loved his sons, and it wasn't like they couldn't afford to care for a third. He wasn't worried about providing the necessities of life, or the love. "It's just that Anika's totally wrapped up in this whole thing. I've never seen her like this. She's impatient, and moody, and every month she doesn't come up pregnant it's like we failed at something, just because it's taking longer than it took with the first two. It hasn't even been all that long."

"Can I ask how long?" Reichart no longer sounded amused. At least his brother was taking his concern seriously. Ted was convinced if he'd lamented about this at work, most of the other State Alchemists would have laughed and told him he was a lucky dog his wife wanted to jump him every time he walked in the door.

"Four months, give or take, and I've had to go out of town a few times on short missions."

"So, not outside the range of reasonable at all."

"I don't think so, but Anika's going to break me before we manage it at this rate."

He thought he might have heard his brother chuckle again, but Reichart's tone was nothing but understanding. "Have you suggested taking a break? It sounds like maybe a month or two off might do you both some good."

"I haven't been brave enough to make that suggestion," Ted admitted. As much as he'd missed with having to do these missions, he hadn't dared broach the subject of anything that might delay her desired outcome.

"You're not facing down a firing squad, Ted. It's just Anika."

"Who might shoot me herself... if she didn't need me." Hyperbole, but it still felt that way. Being on the wrong side of Anika's spirit was not something he courted. He had rarely put a foot wrong with her, which he was grateful for, but that didn't mean she didn't have limits, and lately she was far less rational than he was used to expecting from her. "I feel like there's more to it than just wanting another kid, but she won't talk about anything else."

"It could be a trauma response," Reichart suggested after a few more seconds of thought. "It's only been a few months since the attack. Your whole family was in danger, including her kids. Her mothering instincts may have gone into overdrive. Has she been okay with the boys?"

"She was a little more protective when we first got back, but she's been totally normal around them," Ted acknowledged, thinking about it. "It's just me she's driving crazy."

"Well, there is that." Art sounded relived. "That's a good sign anyway. Look, I don't think you're going to talk her out of this, but if both of you are onboard with a third, then you just need to be honest and tell her what you're feeling about all this, and see if you can get her to talk about what's really going on in her head. You might just have to insist on a break in trying."

Ted swallowed. "If you think so."

Walking in the door that evening, Ted was already wired. The past few months had a pattern, and he knew that as soon as the boys were in bed, he would be expected in his. The only breaks he got were the few days during her cycle where they knew the previous month's attempts had not been successful.

Tonight proved to be no exception. As soon as he had the boys down for the night, and went into the bedroom, Anika was waiting, in a loose sleeping shirt that slumped off one shoulder, and nothing else.

Ted stopped in the doorway. He stood long enough that Anika's expectant expression turned to one of puzzlement. Don't chicken out now, Elric. "I'm really tired. Can we... take a break?"

Anika looked stunned, and she didn't bother to hide it. She rarely did. "I guess one night won't make much difference."

"I might need more than that," Ted admitted, trying an unassuming smile to lighten the blow of his words. "You've been running me ragged."

That was clearly not what she wanted to hear, but she nodded stiffly. "That's... fair. How long do you need?"

"A month? Two?" Ted refrained from shrugging. "At least from trying. Anika... I think we need to rethink this."

He might have suggested divorce from the look of betrayal that flashed across her face. "You've changed your mind?"

Gods, this was so hard. "I didn't say that." Ted shook his head. "I just think we're getting too wrapped up in this. You know we haven't done anything in the evenings when I'm home for the past four months besides try for another kid?"

Anika's frown deepened. "You make it sound like that's unpleasant."

"It's taken all the fun out of it, that's for sure." The words came out sharper than he'd intended, but he couldn't deny the truth. "There's no romance in this, Anika. No spontaneity, no pleasure. It's turned into a chore... or an obsession. It's like you don't think about anything else when we're alone. I'm worried about you. What is this really about?"

He was not at all prepared for the unprecedented waterworks that poured out of his wife's eyes. His Anika; his strong, capable, indomitable Anika... sobbing.

Shit. Ted started to cross the room, reaching out for her. "Anika... beloved, wait, I..."

:Go away!: Anika turned away from him sharply, hiding her eyes in one hand.

"But, I-"

:Not now. Leave me alone.:

:Not when you're crying,: Ted objected. He finished crossing to the bed and sat down beside her, tentatively reaching for her shoulder.

Anika's hand moved like lightning, striking his away with a firm, stinging slap. For a second, she looked as stunned as he was at the move. :I... I can't...: The words didn't come. She hiccoughed, and sobbed.

Ted grabbed her into a hug, pulling her close against him. :And I can't leave you like this. I didn't leave you in the war, or in that cave... and I'm not leaving you now.:

Her resolve lasted only a few moments of tense resistance, then Anika collapsed into him, and sobbed until his uniform shirt was soaked through to the skin. He had no idea how long they sat like that, but he would not move, not until they worked some of this out.

Finally, she quieted. :I'm sorry.:

:I've been hit far worse,: he told her, with a dry chuckle. :I'm sorry I disappointed you, but I really can't keep up with you.:

:I mean I'm sorry for my...behavior.: Anika sniffed, and leaned away from him to reach for a tissue from the box they kept by the bed. :I... feel crazy... like I need this right now. It didn't start that way, but every month... it just seems to get worse.:

:Then maybe we really do need a break,: Ted spoke as gently as he could. :There's no rush, really. We're home, safe and sound, and healthy. The boys are fine. I really don't think we're in any danger any longer.: He slowly rubbed her back, the way his mother had when he was little and sick. :We don't have to go anywhere. There's no expectation but our own. No one is going to make you be anywhere you don't want to be.:

:I just feel... a bit like a traitor for being afraid of going back to Drachma.: Anika dabbed at her eyes and nose with the tissue. :It's home but... it's also not anymore. It feels like giving up, not to want to go back.:

:We don't need a swarm of small children to keep us here,: Ted pointed out. :There's no need for an excuse. I was ready to abandon everything and stay in Drachma for you. I would have missed everyone, but I was ready to learn to live happily in Drachma, because what matters to me is that I'm with you. I still feel that way, wherever we live. If you like our life here, that's no reason to feel guilty. I know... logic has nothing to do with it, but it's okay to be conflicted, and it's okay to fall apart a little. You don't have to be brave in front of me all the time. I know, you are incredibly brave, but if you can't be vulnerable in front of me, where can you be?:

Anika leaned into him again, though this time calmer, and more collected. :I do want another child. It's so strange but... I miss it. I swore I wouldn't but... I do. And... maybe you're right. We should back off, and clear my head maybe. Or at least, not go after it every night.:

:At least give me time to get my stamina back.: Ted chuckled, burying his face in the luxury of her hair. :I'm getting a little raw from abuse, and it would be nice to think I have more uses than as your breeding stud. I'm not Myrda's mate.:

Anika looked up at him, and finally, there was a small smile there. :If you were for stud, I don't think anyone could afford you,: she teased. :Not that I would share you.:

:Nice to know my genes are appreciated.: Ted bent his head down enough to kiss her. :I would never want to be with anyone else. So, since we are not going to try and break me this evening, what do you say to a little nightcap and cuddling over a movie instead?: After that, he could definitely use a little drink.

The relieved look on Anika's face was all he needed. :That sounds... just right.:

July 6th, 1996

When Ted awoke the next morning, he found himself alone in bed. Not that he was overly concerned. Anika was often up first, especially on a weekend, but usually she got him up soon after, as soon as the coffee pot was on. Sooner if both boys were awake and she needed the extra pair of hands.

He was more concerned about the fact she hadn't awakened him, and it was already nine in the morning. He padded downstairs in his shorts and an undershirt, to find Anika sitting on the couch with the boys, watching morning animated children's programming. They only occasionally let the boys sit and watch programming, so they were raptly attentive.

Ted walked up behind the couch and looked at the screen as he placed his hands on the back of the couch, behind Anika. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Good morning, beautiful."

Anika looked up at him, her hands wrapped around a hot steaming mug of coffee. She smiled, looking much more herself. "Good morning. You look a bit like a bear." She reached up and tousled his hair.

Ted chuckled. He was sure it was probably a mess. It usually was when he first woke up. "Well, mama bear left me hibernating by myself."

"After our conversation last night, I thought maybe you needed the extra rest."

"Well, it didn't hurt," he admitted as he came around the front to join them. "Are you feeling better this morning?" he asked as he picked up Eurion and set him on his lap. The boy barely noticed, except to lean back into him.

Anika nodded. "I am. I guess I just really needed to get that out more than I realized. I haven't changed my mind, though." That last had a coy smile to it. "So don't think you're off the hook forever."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Ted assured her, slipping his free arm around behind her shoulders. "But this time, you don't get to cuss me out and blame me for it when we get there. Given you have been literally demanding it."

"I promise that no such words of blame shall cross my lips."

"And your thoughts?" Ted asked, with one arched eyebrow.

"I clearly cannot claim to have full control over those under moments of emotional or hormonal stress, so... that's all you're getting." Anika shrugged. "If I do, I will apologize afterwards."

"I'll take that."