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You Belong to Me	By : squallstorm Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9883 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Disclaimer:
I don't own Sabrina or Fullmetal Alchemist.

Thanks
to ZaKai for the hard work on this chapter. Without you, it wouldn't
be a strong as it is!

(1)
CEO – chief executive officer

Whew,
this one just kept getting longer and longer...but I hope you don't
mind, because to end it early would have made you mad at me I think!
But maybe you'll be mad either way... but in a good way maybe?

Chapter
11

The
main kitchen for the Mustang household was in the throes of barely
contained party-induced panic when Edward silently stepped across the
threshold. People were moving about the large kitchen, neatly
stepping around one another to complete their preparations. A
small smile graced his lips as Mei Chang turned around and started to
yell at the part-time server, identifiable by his uniform, that dared
to get in her way. Patricia swooped down to smooth everyone's
ruffled feathers as soon as the confrontation began. No one had
noticed his presence yet and for that he was glad. He just needed a
moment to take it all in and re-familiarize himself with the location
and the people again.

After
his cover was blown with Winry, the need to hide under the old willow
tree in the back of the garden was very strong, but he successfully
fought it off. He took that as a sign that he was showing even more
personal growth. He was mortified that Roy had done that to him.
Couldn't he have just shut up and let him have that moment? Then
again, Roy was never one to be kind to anyone, so why would he be
kind to him? Edward shook his head, and dismissed those thoughts as
unnecessary.

Instead of heading up to
the garage after his escape, Edward had made a bee-line for the
kitchen. His desire to see Patricia and melt into her arms was one
of the things he was looking forward too most about coming home. His
pseudo mother was very dear to him, even if he never could work up
the courage to tell her, he felt that she knew anyway. As if his
mere thought of the woman alerted her to his presence, Patricia
looked up at him.

Taking few cautious
towards him, Patricia's hands flew to her mouth and she froze.
Unaware of Patricia's shock, Mei Chang continued to berate the
hapless server. Edward smiled at the closest thing to a mother he'd
ever known. Finally taking off his sunglasses, he strode quickly
across the room. As though his sudden movement released Patricia
from her paralysis, she also rushed towards his waiting arms.
Scooping the woman up and twilling her, he laughed into her warm
brown hair.

“Edward!
My God!” laughed Patricia. “You look so good!”
she exclaimed as Edward put her back on the floor. The chaos around
them ground to a halt as the familiar house staff all turned and
gathered around the man in the black suit.

“Ed,
like, when did you come back? Hohenheim didn't say anything,”
Mei Chang's voice rose up over the other people all trying to talk at
once.

“It's
a surprise,” chuckled Edward, flushed with the welcome he was
getting. Patricia lifted the length of his braid and shook her head.
“What? Don't you like it?” he asked, his brow furrowing
with worry. Truth be told, he was worried about how people would
react to his mid-shoulder length hair. He didn't want to be seen as
some sort of hippy. Mid-shoulder length wasn't that long...right?
He kept it neat and tidy. It wasn't as though it was a tangled,
unwashed mess.

Ever since he'd started
going out with Russell, he would comment on how lovely his hair was
and run his fingers through it before working it into a braid. He
supposed Russell might have influenced his decision to grow it out.
It certainly felt nice to have someone comb through his hair. If
only for that alone, he wanted to keep it long.

“Oh,
it's so...you. I love it.” She ran her hand along his arm and
then gave him another hug. “I can't get over how much you've
grown,” said Patricia, stepping back to squeeze his bicep
fondly.

“Thanks,
I had a bit of a late growth spurt, and I've been working out pretty
hard,” said Edward, smirking. He flexed his arm to show just
how much his training had improved his body. He was really proud at
how much he'd changed. He was fit, agile, and now quite happy with
his life.

“I
can see that,” Patricia murmured her eyes widening as the
muscle moved under her hand.

“Hey,
Ed, like are you going to give us, like, a demonstration of your
martial arts? That would be, like, so
cool,” Mei Chang interrupted again.

“Maybe
later, okay?” Edward raised an eyebrow at Patricia, which Mei
Chang failed to notice.

“Have
you, like, seen Winry yet? Oh, my God, did you know that she's,
like, getting married soon?” Mei Chang continued, apparently
without registering that Edward had spoke at all. “Did you
know, they are like, ruining my kitchen with these party plans? I
can't get anything done. They're like, everywhere!”

“Have
you eaten yet? Want me to make you something?” Patricia
ignored Mei Chang's unceasing flow of conversation.

“Naw,
I better go find my da. Is he in his room?” asked Edward, also
ignoring Mei Chang's rant, she didn't seem to notice or mind that she
was just standing beside them not talking to anyone.

“Yes,
you know how he can get around an influx of people.”

“Yeah.
I got presents for everyone, so I'll be back later.” Edward
leaned in and placed a kiss on Patricia's cheek.

Leaving the kitchen for
the refreshing spring air of the bright May afternoon, Edward took a
moment and stopped under the birch tree just outside the house.
Pulling off his jacket, he leaned back into the tree and looked up
through the branches at the young leaves.

Ah, home. So
bittersweet.

- - - -

Roy slammed the phone
down in frustration. Continuing to work was pointless when everyone
around him was clamoring for his attention. Pinako was currently
throwing a hissy fit at Winry, yelling at her that she'd forgotten
her dress. Even through all the chaos, he could still hear his
mother's screech and Winry's answering denial of whatever Pinako had
accused her of now, and then he could hear his mother calling for
him. Shaking his head, Roy ignored the calls and began to clear his
desk of all his papers in preparation for tonight.

Winry
was just...Winry, and being a pain. It was completely typical of her
to forget the one
task asked of her and blow it off without considering how it affects
others. Pinako had been badgering him with complaints and questions
since seven this morning about anything she could think off. It
tested the full limits of his patience to not say some very choice
words to her. Maes would not let up about details of the merger,
calling him constantly so that Roy couldn't get any work done.
Somehow it all had to be brought to Roy's attention for him to deal
with. Really, he was not the camp counselor, so why was everyone
bringing their troubles to him?

Pushing the chair away
from his now cleared desk, Roy stood and walked over to the window,
arching his back and making it pop. Standing next to the floor to
ceiling windows, he surveyed the emerging party area with disinterest
before letting his eyes wander towards the garage. With a little
start of surprise, he saw a once familiar person walk out of the
kitchen and pause.

Edward... The teenager
had certainly changed a lot in two years. Only, he was no longer a
teenager anymore, he was a man. He should be about twenty-one,
twenty-two...? Right now, Roy couldn't remember when the chauffeur's
son's birthday was, and he was usually pretty good with this type of
information. It certainly helps to remember your client's wife's
birthday, or someone's anniversary.

He watched impassively
as the man removed the dark suit jacket and leaned against a tree to
stare vaguely off towards the party area. What would it be like to
be returning home after so long away? Would he be glad to return
here? Could someone like him remain unchanged? There seemed to be a
more confident air about Edward now, but that could be an act. He
was sure the shy kid who was always falling down and getting hurt was
still in there somewhere.

He honestly wouldn't
know how he would react in the same situation. He only traveled when
the need called for it, and if he could help it, not even then. It
was too much like a vacation. He had to work, and work hard for his
family. He was the one to take care of them now. He didn't have
time to play.

Edward finally pushed
off of the tree and flung the jacket carelessly over his shoulder in
preparation to leave. Roy turned away, and walked back to his desk.
Now was as good a time as any to start getting ready for his mother's
party, and it would be the perfect time to show his new plastics
around to some of the potential investors arriving tonight.

- - - -

Edward dropped an aged
bottle of whiskey into his father's waiting hands and smiled. It was
the last of a many number of things he had picked up in Paris and
during his travels to tournaments for his da.

“Edward,
this is too much,” Hohenheim said, looking down at the small
mountain of items, from a scarf to postcards, stamps and small hard
candies, even a few very intriguing books.

“I
got more, for everyone,” said Edward happily, turning back to
his luggage. He started pulling out his clothes and pilling them on
the bed. “I hope this will hang up alright...” Edward
lifted out a very dark suit and eyed it critically. “I better
steam it to be sure.”

“What
do you need that for?” Hohenheim asked, as Edward disappeared
into his bathroom to turn on the shower. “Wait a minute, why
do you have a suit?”

Edward cringed. He took
his time hanging up his jacket on the shower curtain bar, making sure
that all the creases would relax, before he could stall no longer.
His father had the patience of an ox and would wait him out until he
got his answer. It was his secret weapon to make him behave as a
child, and he knew that it would still work on him even now.

Resting his weight on
the door frame of the bathroom, Edward regarded his father's watchful
appraisal of him. “Da...please. I'm invited,” he said,
putting all his longing into his plea. He would go no matter what,
but he didn't want to have to disobey his father in the process.
“I'm finally going to one of the parties. I don't have to
watch anymore...please.”

“Edward,
I don't want you to get hurt,” Hohenheim tried to reason with
his son.

“I
won't...da, please,” Edward begged again, he took a step into
his room and then stopped, unsure.

Hohenheim
took a steadying breath, and closed his eyes. What
would my dearly departed wife have to say about this,
he wondered silently. Most likely to let him fall on his own, now
that he was a grown man. He knew that intellectually...but it was so
hard to let go of the small child he had brought with him from
England all those years ago. He had to watch as his young son
withdrew from everyone around him but for a select few. If that were
to happen again...

“Da...”
Edward crossed the room then, seeing the pain on his father's face,
and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I'm not a kid anymore.
Pairs did all that you hoped for and more. I'm stronger now, really.
Let me prove it.”

“Alright,
you can go, although I'm sure you would have gone without my
permission,” Hohenheim looked up into the mischievous grin on
Edward's face and knew himself to be right.

- - - -

Edward pulled his hair
once more through the soft brush, making it shine in the overhead
bathroom light. He had debated long and hard with himself about
whether he should leave his hair in a braid or let it down. He
finally came to a decision to leave it down and gather the last
quarter together at the bottom of his length to keep it neat.
Although, he was still flopping on that.

Working the clear,
invisible elastic around his hair, he took one last look at himself
in the mirror. Only his long bangs framed his angular face, while
the rest of his hair was pulled back. Although Russell had said he
was handsome on numerous occasions while they were together, he never
quite believed it was true. But if the way Winry had acted towards
him was any indication, it must be true. He'd never seen her act
like she did this afternoon if the man wasn't good looking.

Satisfied that he was as
ready as he could be under the circumstances, Edward flicked the
light off and walked over his bed and shrugged on his jacket,
carefully pulling out his hair. He slipped quietly out of the house,
not wanting his da to see him leave and throw disapproving glances at
him then down to the entrance to the back garden.

Hiding in the shadows,
Edward watched the guests mingle, talking and drinking. How long had
he watched from that tree? How long had he wished for this very
moment to come? Now that it was here, he felt detached and outside
himself. It felt like a dream. Edward looked up at the hole in the
canopy where he had sat so often to intently watch Winry, and now he
was actually going to one of the Mustang's parties.

Scanning the crowd now,
Edward spotted Winry talking with a group of people. His breath
caught in his throat at the sight of her. Her long hair was pulled
over her shoulder, and split in two parts and twisted together in a
loose braid. A beautiful red, gold clip was fastened at the end.
Her dress, an off the shoulder, pale blue, silk number hugged her
body in an indecent way. The calf length hem flared and waved in the
scant breeze, and her stiletto, sandal heals showed off her manicured
toes lovely.

She laughed, at
something one of the people in the group said, and looked over at the
garage. Her smile widened at the sight of him, she turned and
excused herself from the group to cross the distance to meet Edward's
immobile from.

“Hey,”
murmured Winry. She warped her arm though his and leaned into
Edward's side.

“You
look...stunning,” Edward shook his head, and looked
appraisingly at the woman at his side, biting his lip. This was a
dream, it had to be. It was heady to have Winry this close to him.
She was willingly taking his arm. Her touch was like magic. It was
everything he thought it would be. He could even smell her shampoo
under her perfume.

“And
you look...edible,” smirked Winry, causing Edward's cheeks to
flush. “Shall we go?” At his nod, Winry led the way
into the lights and soft ballroom music. They slowly made the
circuit around the perimeter of the party before cutting down the
middle.

“I
don't know if I can do this...” murmured Edward as he looked
everywhere at once. Was it just his imagination or was everyone
looking at him; giving him questioning looks, and presuming to be
with someone like Winry when he was only the chauffeur's son.

“Relax,
you're tensing up. Here.” Winry pulled Edward to a stop and
grabbed a champagne flute off a passing waiter and wrapped Edward's
fine, muscled hand around it. “Drink this fast and it won't
seem so strange.”

Nodding, Edward lifted
the glass to his lips and drained it in one go. Winry took the glass
from his hands and quickly replaced it with another. He sipped at
the pale liquid a little more slowly this time, enjoying the bubbles
and the taste. Winry smiled reassuringly at him, and he let himself
be pulled even further into the milling guests.

“Winry,
can I speak with you a moment?” asked an older man who appeared
on Winry's right and pulled her from Edward's side.

“Senator,
how's your daughter? Still keeping a tight leash on her? Don't go
anywhere!” warned Winry, looking back over her shoulder at him
as she was pulled away, and he nodded. Moving away from the tables
they had been walking through, Edward strolled towards the dance
platform to watch the couples sway to the waltz played by the band.

“Edward,”
Mei Chang hissed at him, making him turn towards the woman. She
smiled at him showing all her teeth. “Shrimp. Forty dollars a
pound, fresh from the harbor. Have some.” She brandished an
ice covered platter at him. Smiling, he took one of the chilled
prawns and dipped it into a small container of sauce, before popping
into his mouth.

“You
look so handsome. It's like, a fairy tale or something, ya know?”
Mei Chang grinned widely again. Edward opened his mouth to
interject a comment, but the woman continued on. “Look,
everyone's watching you. I love your hair like that. It's like, so
cool that you let you hair grow out. I wish my hair was blond.
Black hair is so blah, you know? Oops, Patricia wants me to move on.
Quick, take another. See you around, Edward!”

Edward snatched up
another shrimp and then glanced over his shoulder at where Mei Chang
had nodded at and saw the whole household staff gathered behind the
lattice, waving at him. Smiling at them, he felt Mei Chang brush
past him to continue her rounds.

Scanning
the party for Winry, Edward drained his champagne glass and placed it
on the ledge of the dance floor. He spotted her still talking with
the senator by the house. The man looked upset, but Winry seemed to
be handling him nicely judging from her body language, which was
relaxed. I
could watch her body language all day,
he mused, his eyes roving over her body. She glanced up then, and
winked at him. She nodded at few more times at the senator and then
excused herself. Grabbing another glass off a passing waiter, Edward
averted his eyes, and took a sip from his new glass. He could feel
the heat on his cheeks as Winry walked ever closer to him. To HIM!

“Hey,
shall we dance?” inquired Winry, wrapping her arm though
Edward's.

“Sure...”
Edward breathed. He looked through his bangs at her as they walked
up the steps to the dance floor. She pulled the glass from his numb
fingers and placed it on the banister as they passed. Pulling him to
a stop near the middle of the floor, she took a step forward, and
placed a hand lightly on Edward's back, making him flush pink under
his tan. Ghosting her other hand down his palm, she brought the
other hand up to shoulder level. As if he was underwater, Edward
slowly placed his other hand on Winry's back and began to move them
around the dance floor.

“Do
you know, I've been to all your parties? Up there,” said
Edward, pointing to the tree where he'd watched every single party
the Mustangs had ever had.

“Ah,
Edward,” sighed Winry. “I don't think you know what
you've done to me,” she said shaking her head a little before
closing the distance between them to rest her head on the side of his
temple. “You've changed everything.”

“I
have?” wondered Edward, breathlessly. Winry felt so
good in his arms.

“You
come back from France; absolutely vibrant and sexy, and swept me off
my feet with that fantastic smile of yours,” she said, leaning
back to look into his eyes. Edward raised his eyebrows at the look
Winry was giving him.

“Did
I sweep you off your feet?” asked Edward, and then swallowed at
the smile that earned him. Winry leaned forward again, her breath
tickling the small hairs on his neck. With a small shift, Winry
kissed his ear, making Edward falter. She only did that when she
wanted to go to the solarium! So...she really did feel like that
towards him. His heart pounded under his suit, and his breath came
in small breathless pants. Could it be that she loved him too?

- - - -

“Pinako,
happy birthday, dear,” said Gracia as she stopped beside the
woman who would soon be part of the family, and smiled before leaning
in and placing a kiss on each of the small woman's cheeks. “What
a lovely party,” she said with a smile.

“Gracia,
Maes, so good of you to come.” Pinako leaned forward to place
a kiss on each of Gracia's cheeks, and gave Maes' hand a squeeze.
“Al still in Florida? Some conference, right?” Pinako
asked, she motioned for a waiter to come their way, and the couple
took a glass of champagne each.

“Yes,
that boy works much too hard. Do you know, he wants to open his own
hospital?” Gracia said. “Oh, and I was wanting to talk
to you about the wedding, do you think a thousand people is too
pretentious?”

“That's
not a wedding, it's a zoo,” murmured Maes before taking sip
from his glass. Gracia harrumphed with a small smile and gave Maes a
playful swat.

“Well,
I think it might be a bit much, dear,” Pinako said, sipping
from her glass.

“Hey,
who's that?” interrupted Maes, pointing at the dance floor.
His eyes had been drawn to his future daughter-in-law as she stepped
up to the dance platform, her hands entwined with a man with long
blond hair smiling like he had just won the lottery. Smiling like he
was a cat about to steal some cream.

“Who?”
Pinako looked at the crowd, not immediately spotting who Maes was
pointing to.

“That
man, dancing with our
daughter-in-law,” Maes pointed at the offending person honing
in on his son's territory. The two people were holding each other
very close, and he could see the desire in each of their faces.

“Wha—Oh,
that's-th-at's—oh my,” gasped Pinako and then gave an
uneasy chuckle. “Why that's...Edward?”
Pinako said, shocked at the change in the boy she once knew. She had
to do a double take just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. “My
God...” she whispered to herself, her eyes going wide with
disbelief. “He's like a brother to Winry,” she laughed,
somewhat stiffly as she watched her daughter, becoming more worried
by the second. Where
is Roy? He needs to see to this,
thought Pinako. “They've known each other since they were
children.”

“I
have a brother,” Gracia murmured.

“And
I've never seen you dance like that
with him,” growled Maes.

- - - -

Striding
through the house, Pinako hurried towards Roy's office. He had been
holed up inside with various potential investors, trying to generate
interest in his new venture since the party started. She
knocked quietly and let herself in. Thankfully, Roy was just
finishing up with his presentation, and seeing everyone to the door.
Pinako motioned to Roy, and she went by the window overlooking the
garden to wait for her son. A few moments later and Roy was by her
side.

“We
got a problem,” Pinako said with out preamble. She pointed out
the window at party and the couple on the dance floor.

“Shit...”
hissed Roy.

- - - -

“Let's
go somewhere where we can talk,” suggested Winry as they swayed
across the dance floor, pulling Edward closer, so that he could feel
her breast push against his chest suggestively.

“We
are talking,” said Edward, suddenly afraid of being alone with
Winry. He swung them around towards the middle of the dance floor
and away from the stairs.

“I
know, but somewhere more quiet—”

“Like
the solarium?” interrupted Edward. He pulled the woman out of
their embrace so he could look at her face and see her reaction. She
seemed surprised at that.

“I
guess you were paying attention,” Winry said with a smile.

“What
do you think you're doing, punk!”

Edward turned towards
the loud shout, and just caught a glimpse of a man in dark clothing
before he was shoved roughly aside. Winry stumbled backwards into a
couple dancing near them and gasped. Catching himself on a guest
before falling to the ground, Edward stared at his attacker.

The extremely tall man
had a head full of white hair and his long thin face was pointed
straight at Winry. The man looked quite young despite the fact that
his hair had gone white. His bow tie was pulled apart and dangling
on either side of his neck and he was swaying dangerously.

“Hey!”
yelled Edward, not liking the way he was slowly advancing on Winry
one bit. Pushing away from the man he had fallen on, he jumped in
front of the drunken guest and blocked his view of Winry. He scowled
at the man, silently daring him to start something.

“This
isn't really the place for that. How about we call you a cab home?”
suggested Edward. In all his time spent watching the parties no one
had ever caused a ruckus, crashed it, or been able to sneak in. He
felt bad that this man was embarrassing himself like this.

“Bastard,
she's mine,” the man slurred. “Look I got pictures.”
He reached into a over large pocket and pulled out a bunch of torn
magazine pictures and threw them on the floor in front of Edward's
feet.

Looking up from the
pile, Edward narrowed his eyes at the man. He sensed the crowd being
pushed aside and someone coming forward onto the dance floor behind
him, but he didn't feel comfortable taking his eyes of off this guy.
He only hoped that someone had the presence of mind to get Winry the
hell out of here.

“Hey!
Where you going?” The man stumbled forward, and Edward's hand
shot out, pushing the man back with a hard shove to his chest.

Grimacing at the fact
that he had to touch the man's clothes, Edward glared. He lifted his
hand which had become wet from the man's chest and smelled alcohol.
“Hey, man, you don't want to do that.”

“Why?
You gonna...tickle me?” The man threw his head back and
laughed derisively, drawing every one of the guest's attention now.

“Leave
now,” ordered Edward. Inside, he was strangely calm and
relaxed. All his training left him confident and sure of his
abilities. Although, he knew that he couldn't strike out against the
guy, no matter what he did. His goal was to subdue. The drunken
guest looked Edward up and down and laughed again; a harsh sounding,
barking kind of laugh. Quick as silver, the man struck out with his
fist at the side of Edward's head.

With a shift of his
feet, Edward slipped under the swing and camp up on the inside. When
the arm came back towards him, he latched onto the wrist and forearm,
gripping it tightly. The crowd gasped and cried and moved hurriedly
away from the two struggling men. Flipping the wrist over so his
palm was facing the sky, Edward yanked him towards the ground, chin
first. He knelt down on the drunk's shoulder blade and pulled the
arm into his chest, locking it in place. The man under him grunted
in pain, but couldn't move from his position.

“Someone
wanna call the cops?” Edward asked the cowering people. About
thirty cell phones were thrust towards his face, and all Edward could
do was smile uncertainty at them.

- - - -

Roy pushed his way
through the people towards the dance floor, intent on pulling Winry
away from Edward. Childhood acquaintance or not, he would be treated
with the same heavy hand he treated all of Winry's mistakes.

By the time he had
gained the dance floor, Edward was squared off with a teetering man,
and Winry was cowering on the edge of the crowd. Pushing his way to
the inner ring, Roy gripped his sister's upper arm and pulled her
away.

“Wha—wait,
Roy—Edward! He could get hurt.” Winry pulled on Roy's
hand.

“I'm
more concerned with what you think you were doing out there with
him,”
growled Roy, yanking Winry's arm forward.

“Oh,
my God! I don't know what's happening, I mean, I feel so strange.
Edward...I don't think I can marry Al. This may sound crazy but I
think I'm actually falling in love with Edward.” Winry jogged
in order to keep up with her brother's long strides.

“Don't
be ridiculous! You don't know what you're talking about,”
hissed Roy, rolling his eyes at the flighty nature of his sister. A
large gasp rippled through the crowd, causing Roy to turn back to
look over his shoulder. “How could you act like that in front
of your future, very paranoid, in-laws?”

“It's
like I never really saw
who Edward was,” continued Winry, oblivious to Roy's comments.

He shoved Winry at the
porch without looking, and watched Edward, who seemed to have the
situation well in hand. Roy became fascinated as the young man
neatly flipped the drunk over and disappeared from sight.

All of a sudden, Winry
was no longer within his grasp. Roy whipped around to find that his
sister had tripped on the corner of the porch and was grimacing
with pain.

“Jesus,
Roy, I think you broke my ankle,” hissed Winry. “And you
broke my shoe. Look the heel came right off!” Winry held
aloft the damaged article and groaned as her movement jostled her
leg.

“I
broke it?” asked Roy, incredulously. He knelt down examined
her leg, which was swelling magnificently already.

“You
pushed me,” she accused.

“Winry!”
Pinako cried, coming out of the house to find out where Roy had
gotten off too. “What are you doing to yourself?”

“Not
me,” hissed Winry, pointing at her brother.

“Let's
get her inside,” Roy motioned Pinako around the other side of
Winry's body.

- - - -

Standing beside the
floor length windows, Edward watched the party resume its carefree
celebration. The cops were just finished taking his statement and
were exchanging a few words with Roy. He wondered where Winry had
gotten off too. He kinda hoped that she would have come back and
maybe...swoon a little over his expert handling of the situation.

“Yes,
I want to press charges,” said Roy, his voice carrying across
his office. He glanced at Edward who was standing by the window
briefly before turning his attention back to the sergeant.

“Thank
you, sir. You'll be hearing from us.”

At the sound of the door
closing, Edward turned. “Are they done?”

“Yes,”
Roy crossed the Indian area rug and pulled out his desk chair.
Falling into the plush leather seat, he massaged his temples. What a
mess. Winry hadn't shut up about Edward while they waited for
Hohenheim to bring the car around to take her to the hospital. She
repeated her statement about not marrying Al in front of Pinako
sending her in a tizzy. Thank God, Maes hadn't been around to hear
that. He would have killed a year and a half of hard work on the
spot. He had to sort this out somehow.

“Roy.”
Pinako peeked her head around the door and motioned him outside.

Glancing at Edward
standing in the corner, Roy pushed his chair back and stepped into
the hall, closing the door behind him.

“What
are we going to do? Winry can't get involved with Edward,”
fretted Pinako, looking both ways down the hall to make sure no one
would over hear them.

“I
know. I'll have to...distract him or something.” Roy ran his
hand through his bangs, and sighed.

“You're
going to get rid of him? Edward?” Pinako said, shocked.

“What
would you rather; Winry off playing with Edward, or Winry married to
Al?” hissed Roy.

“I
don't like this...there's got to be a better way,” Pinako said.
She frowned at the cold handed thing they were planning to do.
“He's the son of our
chauffeur.”

“You're
not supposed to like it,” said Roy. He placed his hand on the
door handle and walked back into his office, only to see that the
door on the far wall was ajar, and Edward was gone. He just hoped
that he hadn't overheard their conversation. The guests began to
sing happy birthday, signaling Pinako's time to go. “I'll go
look for him. Better go, they're singing happy birthday.” Roy
waved his mother down the hall.

He watched as she
reluctantly left him to his own devices. As soon as she was out of
sight, Roy was striding across his office out the other door hoping
to track down where Winry's new fixation had gotten off too.

- - - -

Strolling through the
dark garden, Edward plucked a small flower from a neatly trimmed wild
rose bush, and inhaled the sweet, heady scent. Winry had most likely
given him the brush off, and that's why she hadn't come back to talk
with him. The night seemed to be going so well...he wondered what he
did wrong.

Without
realizing it, Edward had walked into the solarium. Shaking his head
at himself, he continued in and sat on a cushioned lawn chair with
his elbows resting on his knees. What had
he been hoping for really? Did he honestly want to have his first
time here?
Where Winry had had so many others. Wasn't it supposed to be
special and all that jazz. Edward snorted at his own musings.
Russell had turned him into a sap...or maybe he was always one.
Geez, I really am gay,
he thought. Or
at least bi...

“Here
you are,” Roy said exasperated. “I was looking all
over.”

Edward's head shot up in
surprise. “I thought they were done with me,” he said,
and hastily stood to address Roy as he came down the flag stone steps
to the patio where he was standing.

“They
were, but I wasn't,” said Roy in a friendly manner. He
brandished two champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne at Edward
before placing them on the small side table next to Edward's chair.
Gripping the bottle neck, Roy twisted the wire taught and popped the
cork. A small amount of frothy liquid spilled over and splashed onto
the floor.

“What
are you doing?” asked Edward, frowning. He didn't get it. Why
was Roy seeking him out? Shifting his weight to the other foot, he
took the glass offered and blushed as their fingers grazed. What was
that! How come his heart was suddenly pounding up against his rib
cage? Why the hell did he feel
that touch so much? This was Roy! The one who always scared him,
chased him... What the hell
was that!

“I'm
delivering a message,” said Roy with a small smile, unaware of
Edward's inner turmoil. He held aloft his glass and clinked it with
Edward's before taking a sip. His eyes were riveted to Edward's
embarrassed, and suspicious face.

“A
message?” Edward inquired, taken aback. He didn't like this,
it was too...strange. Roy being nice to him... And why the fuck did
he still feel that touch! He gripped his champagne glass tight,
hoping to erase the tingling in his fingertips with the press of his
fingers.

“From
Winry. She fell and broke her ankle—we think, anyway—and
she made me promise to find you.”

“What?
How? When! Is she still here?” Spinning around on the ball
of his foot, he placed the glass in his hand on the small stone wall
encasing the plants and made for the door.

“Whoa!”
Roy's hand shot out and pulled back on Edward's shoulder, stopping
him. “She's at the hospital, you can see her tomorrow.”

Edward turned his head
and looked down at the hand resting on his shoulder, making Roy
quickly remove it to fall to his side. Twirling the rose in his
finger tips, Edward studied the floor, watching Roy out of his
peripheral vision. It was...bizarre. Here was Roy, someone who
never came out here, who he'd never seen with anyone, talking with
him like they were old friends or something. Edward chewed his lip
lightly. Could Roy be out here to...get rid of him?

“Are
you here to deal with me? Going to offer money to get rid of the
inappropriate chauffeur's son?” Edward asked, turning around so
he could see Roy better and gage his reactions. Edward raised his
eyebrows at the blank look Roy gave him. He couldn't really be out
here for that...could he? “What? Going to offer something like
fifty thousand? A hundred thousand?” joked Edward, chuckling
uneasily at the floor.

“Two
hundred thousand,” offered Roy. Edward raised his head and
looked blankly into Roy's face, and watched as he causally slid his
free hand into his pant pocket. “A million,” Roy
counter-offered, sounding like he was trying to negotiate a contract
or something.

“No...”
breathed Edward, aghast. He took a step back, and frowned at Roy.
He heard about some of the things Roy had done to get rid of unwanted
suitors for Winry. To have that directed at him...meant that Roy saw
him as a threat. He would not be apart of that. He didn't want
anything from them. He wasn't about to be a gold-digger or looking
for a pay-day. He genuinely liked—no, loved—Winry.

“Good
boy,” sighed Roy, his body finally releasing the subtle tension
in his shoulders.

Edward
hardly knew how to feel knowing that Roy was testing him like that.
His mind was a mess as he tried to sort through his confused
feelings. He was equal parts angry, horrified, and outraged at Roy's
audacity. Just what did he think he was here for? He had been ready
to let Winry go, but she came on to him, despite having a fiancé.
If she cared about him, she can't care about her soon-to-be-husband.
Why shouldn't he explore that?

“So,
do you want her message?” Roy asked after a few quiet moments.
The music from the party drifted clearly to the solarium. Roy placed
his glass on the small end table, and motioned Edward to the center
of the patio.

He considered just
walking away, and leaving Roy here with a few very choice words about
what he could do with his billfold, but he didn't. Curious and
highly suspicious, Edward kept his eyes on Roy as he moved where he
indicated. He had no clue where this could be going. What sort of
message could Winry have for him after Roy just flaunted his money
like that?

Edward watched as Roy
followed him, and immediately placed his hand on Edward's hip. If he
was confused before, he was down right baffled now. He looked down
at Roy's hand, wondering what the hell was going through Roy's mind,
because he sure as fuck didn't have a clue. Roy then reached down
and brought up Edward's hand in his own.

“What
the—you're gay?”
blurted Edward, his jaw going slack, making no move to escape from
Roy's hold. The pure shock of that revelation making him momentarily
dumb. Roy was coming on to him!

Roy's face struggled
with emotion until it settled on disgruntled for a few moments, and
then went bland. Edward bit his lip. It was quite obvious that he'd
just step over the line. Maybe Roy hadn't even come out yet.
Stepping out, Roy drew Edward with him in time to the drifting music.
Edward followed easily still feeling very shell shocked.

“Is
that why you never brought anyone out here?” wondered Edward
cautiously. He never once saw Roy with anyone.
Male or female, maybe this was why. A
gay CEO (1) couldn't look good to the share holders,
he reasoned. But it shouldn't matter in this day and age. Gay
marriage had become legal, they were more accepted in the
communities. It was true that there were still unreasonable pockets
of resistance, but generally people didn't bat an eye when someone
'came out'.

“I
never had anyone I wanted to bring,” murmured Roy, sullenly.
“Is it so strange that I want to dance with the most beautiful
man here?”

“Ah--yeah!
I mean, you never do anything fun...that...I...ever saw...”
Edward's eyes widened as he processed what Roy had just said. “Oh,
and thanks,” mumbled Edward looking down and to the side. He
could feel the heat on his cheeks, making him fight for control. Why
the fuck was he blushing. Just 'cause Roy gave him a complement
shouldn't not make him blush! Roy wasn't that good looking... Wait,
what the hell did he just think? Roy wasn't good looking—yes,
he was—is! Fuck!

“What's
with the flower?” wondered Roy, nodding at the small rose in
his raised hand.

Edward struggled to get
his head around all these revelations he seemed to be having today.
First Winry liked him, and now Roy! He shrugged his shoulders,
unsure how he should answer. He had just plucked it because it smelt
nice, but he didn't want to say that and be scoffed at for it.
“Nothing really. Here,” said Edward, moving the flower
towards Roy so he could smell if he wanted. Just keep the
conversation light, and don't think too much... Yeah...right...

“No
thanks, I don't want a nose full of pollen,” chuckled Roy, his
face softening with his mirth.

“What?”
wondered Edward, using the moment to study Roy's face—to really
see it from a stranger's point of view. At twenty-eight, Roy looked
fit with a slightly shaggy hair cut, his bangs falling into his eyes.
He was clean shaven and smelled great. Roy was tall too. But as
tall as he had gotten, which wasn't much, he only came up to Roy's
chin.

“Don't
you remember?” inquired Roy, breaking through his observations.
Edward shook his head no. Smiling, Roy plucked the rose out of
Edward's hand and brought it up to his nose for a long inhale before
handing it back. “After you had just arrived here, you went
out and decimated the flower gardens. Every single flower. Every
one of them, you had gone out and picked. The yard was littered with
the flowers you either didn't like or couldn't carry. I found you
wondering the house with an arm full of flowers and when you showed
them to me you shoved the whole lot of them up my nose.”

“I
don't remember that,” said Edward with a frown. He looked
again as Roy hummed like he had just figured something out. “What?”

“I
think I just figured out why you don't like me,” said Roy,
moving them around the flag stones.

“Oh?”
He was quite curious to hear this.

“I
made you cry for destroying the gardens,” murmured Roy, his
face softening at the memory of the skinny child, balling his eyes
out and running from the house. “Oh! I almost forgot. Your
message,” whispered Roy. He leaned forward towards Edward's
upturned face, and tightened his arms as Edward tried to pull back.
Roy brought his lips down to cover Edward's.

With a grunt of
surprise, Edward's eyes went wide, and he froze. Roy pulled back
almost immediately, and the kiss was over before he could really
process what was happening.

“From
Winry; the rest of the message,” Roy said, looking pleased.
His arms were still around Edward's waist, holding him close.

Horrified that Roy would
do something so...awful, Edward swung hard and clocked him on the
point of his chin with a clench fist, sending him staggering.

“Oh,
shit! Um...sorry. Fuck,” Edward laughed nervously, running a
hand through his bangs. What did he just do? Did he just hit
his father's employer? “You...uh...surprised me,” said
Edward, trying to make it better, but knowing that he couldn't do
that. He watched as Roy dabbed at his lip before he slowly
straightened.

“Are
you okay?” asked Edward, hovering by Roy's side. He had
reacted without meaning. Roy had kissed him? What was this all
about! He didn't believe for one moment that Winry would ask Roy to
kiss
him
in her place. Shit! What if he was mad at him and fired da in
retaliation? No, no...Roy wasn't like that, he was sure...he hoped.

“Yeah,
I deserved that,” murmured Roy, glancing sidelong at him.
Edward flinched in sympathy. Why did he punch Roy? Why did Roy kiss
him? Why did Roy dance with him? Why?

“Um...you
got my knuckle print...on...your...” Edward's hand reached out
to touch Roy's face, but fell away at the last second. “Yeah...”

“I
think in future you should pick up your messages in person,”
said Roy coolly, moving away from Edward to pick up his discarded
glass on the side table. “Good night,” he said, with a
slight tilt of his head in his direction before striding up the steps
towards the solarium door.

Nodding
at Roy's retreating back, Edward watched Roy push open the glass door
and walk out without glancing back. Just
fuckin' brilliant Elric, fuckin' brilliant,
he thought. He reached up and pressed his fingertips to his tingling
lips. Brilliant...

-- To be continued --

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