Before We Begin
Before We Begin
Eastbound Train
6:00am
Edward Elric had exactly Eighteen days before his new promotion and he was shackled to a desk. He had fourteen days until his son's second birthday. He had ten days before his fiancée arrived to move into the guest room. He had five days until his final fitting on his uniform. He had maybe twenty minutes until his Dad found his note and found out that Ed had, once again, done something impulsive and possibly foolish.
It had all started when they had returned from Xing. Al had recovered nicely while they were gone, perhaps more so than seemed natural but Edward wasn't going to question it. He didn't want to know if using Hohenheim's stone had sped up the process because he was still angry with the man for what he had done. Everything was fine at first, Ed had even sort of forgotten their argument before he and Roy had left, but then as it turned out Al had talked to Teacher.
Teacher had caught Edward alone in the kitchen and demanded to know what was going on with Rose and her child, and with Winry. Ed admitted, in a less special way than he had intended but Teacher was scary, that he and Winry were engaged. As far as Rose went, all Ed knew was rumors. Teacher scoffed and demanded to know if Ed was the father of her child.
It was then that Ed knew that Al was never going to let it go. It didn't matter what Ed said, Al believed the rumors. It was Yuery all over again. Ed had told Teacher what little he knew, he told Dad what little he knew, and he told Al again the same. Al didn't even pretend he might believe him. Dad and Teacher both seemed to doubt him. That's what really hurt. He was used to Al by now, but that Al had managed to convince them… then he talked to Ms. Riza, and she had said. "I want to believe you."
So here he was, on a train, heading to Liore when he should be at home getting ready for the next stage of his life. He was going to hunt Rose down and he was going to make her tell the truth. He just wasn't sure how he was going to pull it off. At least Winry believed him. Mei seemed to have decided to stay out of the argument completely, locking herself in his library and refusing to come out until dinner.
Mustang-Elric Household
6:00 am
Roy knew something was off as soon as he opened his eyes. He wasn't sure what it was, but something was off in the house. He brushed it off, mostly. The few months had put them all on edge, and he hadn't been back home very long, and they hadn't had a pleasant homecoming, what with the boys fighting most of the evening.
The thing was, Roy was pretty sure he believed Ed that the child wasn't his, if for no other reason than he couldn't imagine Ed denying his own child. He had been surprised that Ed hadn't insisted on keeping Ping to be honest. He also wasn't sure he believed Ed that Ed had no idea Rose was telling people it was his child until Al told him. Again, it seemed like something Ed would do, lie to protect a child was right up there on the list things Ed has done without thinking it through.
Roy sighed. He climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom, it wouldn't be long before Yuery was up, and Roy wanted to be dressed and ready so he could insist on taking over. He missed his old morning routine of spending breakfast with his grandson before work, and wanted to restart it as soon as possible.
Twenty minutes later, Roy headed to Ed's room to collect Yuery, who was likely up and chatting with Ed by now. Ed usually cuddled with the boy for awhile before Yuery insisted on getting out of bed. Roy listened at the door, but didn't hear anything, so either the boy had slept in or they were already downstairs. Roy shrugged and opened the door silently in case they were still sleeping.
The room was empty so he headed down to the kitchen to find them and start breakfast before Ed decided to do it himself. Roy knew there was something was wrong when he got downstairs and there was no sound. Even when Ed was trying to be quiet to let Al sleep there was sound. Ed's foot unless he wore thick socks clunked, and Yuery always talked about his morning.
The hallway smelled like coffee, so at some point Ed had been in the kitchen. Perhaps he and Yuery were out in the yard with the pets. Roy walked into the kitchen cautiously. It was empty, the back door was still locked, and there was a fresh pot of coffee on the stove. Roy also noticed the basket of muffins on the counter, and walked over to grab one while he thought. Next to the basket he found the note.
Dad,
Yuery and I are headed to Liore.
I need everyone to know the truth and it's the only thing I can think of.
I'm going to find Rose and make her tell you what really happened.
I'll be back in time for my final fitting.
Ed
Roy shook his head, now convinced that Ed was in fact telling the truth about all of it. Ed was most impulsive when he was trying to right a perceived wrong, which Roy fully intended to point out to his younger son as soon as the boy woke.
Roy started cooking the eggs and bacon. If he was going to get into an argument with his son, he wanted to feed the boy first. He was still to thin in Roy's opinion. Roy worried about both of his boys. He had worried about them before they were his, and if anything, he worried even more now.
Al arrived in the kitchen a little while after Roy had started the bacon, he was still in his pajamas and robe, and using his cane instead of the wheelchair. Roy wanted to smile at the sight but didn't want to send mixed signals and the boy needed a lecture. Al happily said good morning as he sat down, and Roy repeated it.
There was silence for a moment while Roy tried to decide how to begin. Al made it easier by asking where the others were. "Apparently, on a train to Liore."
"So he finally decided to do the right thing and go meet his son? I wasn't upset when he didn't know. Obviously that's happened to him before, but when he found out and went to Xing instead. That was terrible." Al said as he served himself from the platters on the table.
"This has gone on long enough." Roy said, frustration clear in his voice. "Alphonse, I once told your brother to let it go and let you think what you wanted to keep the peace between you. This was the wrong advice. I should have intervened long before now."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your brother is not lying to you. He didn't lie to you two years ago and he's not lying now." Roy said with a sigh. "I arranged the paperwork myself. I know exactly what all of it said, Edward saved that child and then he brought him home and raised him as his own. He loves that child. That child was an orphan. Your brother witnessed their death."
"That makes no sense. What does that have to do with Rose anyway?" Al said.
"Let me ask you something first. When you were in Liore with Edward last year, how long was he gone before he met you in the room?"
"I don't know, maybe an hour?" Al said.
"So, you believe that your brother in just an hour managed to call and check in on Yuery, eat dinner, and seduce a girl?" Roy asked. "Keep in mind that this is Edward we are talking about here. The same boy who proposed by screaming in Winry's face about equivalent exchange. Think about it."
"Well…maybe she seduced him, and he's embarrassed by it."
"Or, he's telling you the truth and your denial has once again pushed him away, this time to the point that he feels he needs to bring you proof!" Roy said as he handed the note to Al. "Now, I can't force you to believe a damn thing, but you need to accept what your brother says when he gets back. I don't care if you believe him, make him think you do before it drives a wedge between you."
"Okay." Al said in a small voice, kind of surprised by the anger in Roy's voice. He had heard Dad mad before, especially at Ed, but he couldn't remember a time Dad was ever this mad at either one of them. Mei came in and waited by the doorway noticing the tension in the air. Roy waived her in and stood himself. He wished them a good day before heading out the door to get to the office.
Liore
5:00 pm
Edward had originally planned to go straight from the train to wherever it was he could find Rose. He wasn't sure where exactly, but he planned to check the church and the food stall… and then just kind of wander around town until he found her. It wasn't a good plan. It wasn't even a plan, more of a vague idea.
Yuery was hungry and tired, and cranky when they got off the train, so Ed changed the plan. He went to the hotel to rent a room for the night and get his son something to eat. His son came first, as usual. Once they were seated in the dining room, after dropping off their bags in their room.
Ed sighed tiredly, as he picked Yuery up and sat him back in his chair for the third time since they ordered. Hopefully the food arrived soon. "Down, Dada."
"No." Ed said as he forced the child back into his chair for the fourth time.
"Uggggh. Down. Dada." Yuery said even louder as he tried to climb down again.
"Yuery Alphonse Mustang Elric. Do not move." Edward said in his sternest tone.
"NOOOOOOOO" Yuery cried but stayed in place.
"Long trip?" the waitress asked as she finally dropped off their plates.
"Yeah, and we had just gotten back from a longer one. I think he's just worn out." Ed said as the boy started eating his noodles happily no longer trying to escape. Ed started eating as well, he wanted to eat as much as possible while the boy was distracted.
"I couldn't help but overhear you. Are you Edward Elric?" the waitress asked.
"Yes I am." Ed said with a sigh. He didn't really want to know what that was about, not this late in a very long day.
"Are you here to finally come back for Rose?"
"Do you know Rose?" Ed asked, hoping this would shorten his search.
"I remember seeing you with her last year, You were wearing a red coat that time." She said and Ed looked down at his grey sweater and jeans. He had decided to travel lowkey in hopes of not being noticed. He'd been in the papers several times over the last few weeks. "I could call her and let you know you're here looking for her. How wonderful, she kept telling everyone you wouldn't be back, and yet here you are! Oh she has the best surprise for you too."
Ed assumed the girl meant Rose's son. He sighed heavily as the woman already disappeared. At least he wouldn't have to go looking. Hopefully. Yuery had finished his noodles, and refused the pieces of chicken. Ed pushed some of his own noodles onto the boy's plate and taken the bits of meat the boy refused. He wasn't in the mood to fight with the boy today.
Before long the girl came back to ask if they needed anything else before adding that Rose was okay with him going over to see her and handing Ed a piece of paper with an address. Ed thanked her, debating if he should go right over or wait until morning. Yuery's mood had improved after eating and it would probably help him sleep tonight if he got to walk around for a while after spending the whole day on the train.
Edward thought he might sleep better after a walk himself, especially if he could get this matter settled tonight. Decided, Edward took Yuery to wash his hands and face then walked out of the hotel, leaving a tip at the table and signing the bill to his room.
As Edward walked down the street he noticed the changes to the town from the last time he was here. They had rebuilt, but he could tell it had been rebuilt. There was still some damage here and there, but the real difference was the people. Ed wouldn't have called them overly friendly the first time he was here, now though they looked gaunt skittish worn.
Worse, about a block and a half from the address he had been given, he saw a group of men and women heckling a girl about nineteen. She was crying and clutching a baby to her chest, as the people around her called her names and told her she didn't belong there.
Ed looked down at his son… he couldn't just let this go, but he couldn't endanger his child either. With a sigh he decided to mimic his Dad. Ed picked up the boy so he wouldn't get trampled by the crowd before he walked into the crowd and calmly said "Is there a problem here?"
One man, who he recognized as the guy who ran the little food stand, stepped forward. "I recognize you. You're that boy that Rose was running around with that told us the preacher was a fraud. Good man. Rose'll be happy to see you again."
"That's nice. Why are you all attacking this girl?" Ed said as he stood in front of the young mother, Yuery looking them all with wide eyes.
"She's a sympathizer. Went and had one of those Bastards spawn." The man said. Ed rolled his eyes, and asked the girl if she was okay.
The crowd seemed torn, but remembering what the boy was capable of, and how his father and brother had helped with the restoration, they decided to disperse. Ed then turned to the girl and asked her if she was alright. "I hate this town. I would have left like Sarah and Leah, but I can't afford a train ticket let alone somewhere to stay once I get there."
Ed nodded, thinking fast. He had a rough plan, more an idea than anything. "Hey, it's okay. I want you to meet me here tomorrow afternoon around three, to talk about a way to get you out of here. Are there any other girls stuck here like you?"
"No. Sarah and Leah left, and Rose managed to fly under their radar. She had some guy who –"
"I know. I'll see you tomorrow, please stay safe until then." Ed said, cutting her off. He just realized as he walked away that his plan of action changed in the last five minutes.
He couldn't ask Rose to tell the truth and open herself up to that kind of abuse. He had to get her and that other girl out of here first, then get her to tell the truth. Then he could get them help, and finally… he didn't care. This was going to be his first priority in his new office. The soldiers who ruined this town needed to be punished, and the townspeople needed to stop taking it out on the victims. Well, he fixed the town once, he could do it again.
He set Yuery back down and let the boy walk the rest of the way to the apartment building he was looking for, but carried him up the stairs not wanting to wait for the child to climb them himself. He took a steadying breath and knocked on the door. A young girl, with long white hair opened it. Ed smiled down at her and asked for Rose.
Rose came out of the back, telling the girl to invite them in. Ed closed the door behind him, and after a quick glance around to be sure the room was relatively baby safe set Yuery down. "Hey Rose. Heard you had trouble."
"Hello Edward. Not as much as some of the others. I assume Winry talked to you?"
"I know about William, yes." Edward said. Rose nodded and gestured for him to sit down. Before he could say anything Rose nodded to the girl who disappeared into the other room, returning moments later with a baby and a young boy. The boy, like the girl, was clearly Ishbalan, with his white hair and red eyes. The baby however, was Rose's child. He had lighter skin than the other two, but dark brown, almost black hair and dark blue eyes. Ed smiled at the baby and said. "Hello William. I'm sorry I don't know your names." He added to the girl.
"Hannah." Rose said, then gestured to the boy. "Daniel."
"Hey, Hannah. Would you like to play with Yuery for me for just a little bit?" Ed asked with a friendly smile.
"Miss Rose?" the girl asked quietly.
"Go on, Hannah. This is Edward, I told you he was coming." Rose said. The girl nodded again and led both Yuery and Daniel over to the far corner where there was a box of toys. Ed and Rose sat in silence for a moment before she said "I know why you're here and I'm sorry Edward, but if I tell the truth do you know what would happen to my children?"
"I met a girl nearby. No met is the wrong would. I saved a girl who was being attacked by her own people. I know what the risk of staying in this town is costing you Rose." Ed said with a sigh. "Tomorrow afternoon, at three o'clock, meet me on the corner with the other girl. Bring all three children, and whatever you can't afford to leave behind. I'm getting you all out of this town, and then I'm going to punish the men that hurt you…as long as they survived Promised Day."
Ed collected his son and was about to leave when he stopped to ask the other girl's name. Rose said her name was Maddie and her baby's name was Ella. Ed nodded and thanked her before disappearing out the door after asking her to tell Maddie to bring what she wanted to keep like he had said to her. Rose agreed, with that Ed and Yuery disappeared into the quickly gathering shadows.
It was then he realized what he had done again. He had come here on a whim, now he was bringing back half a dozen people back to Central with him and had no real plan beyond that. He was going to fix this though. He made a promise to himself and his Dad that they were going to make this place better than what Bradly and Father had made it, and this was the first step.
Hotel
8:00 pm
Ed dialed the number in Rush Valley quietly, while Yuery clung half asleep to his hip. Ed could tell Dad about what was happening when he got back to the city, but he needed to tell Winry now before hit the papers and perhaps they should leave before the paper noticed anything.
Winry answered as usual and Ed said a very quiet hello in return, as the toddler drifted closer to sleep. Winry sighed heavily before asking him if he had broken his leg. He assured her it was fine, before taking a deep breath. "Okay. So, AL refused to believe I was anything short of a total jerk who just randomly has kids all over the place like Him. So I got sick of it and Yuery and I hoped on the train out to Liore because Rose was the start of this issue."
"Oh Ed, you didn't cause trouble for her did you?" Winry asked, concerned.
"No. Not exactly The thing is it won't take long for the papers to catch this now that they all know my face so I wanted to tell you first. This place is a nightmare, so I may have asked a couple of women and their kids to come home to Central with me…"
"And now they're going to be writing about your harem?" Winry said with amusement.
"Shut up. Probably. So I wanted to let you know what was happening first."
"Paninya has room. If either of them need it, or both of them. She was just talking about how much it was going to suck to have to look for a new room mate."
"Thanks, I'll be sure to pass on the offer." Ed said.
"Thanks Ed. And thanks for calling about something other than an injury. How's Yuery?"
"Cranky. It's been a long day. Tomorrow's gonna be just as bad."
"Have you talked to your Dad yet?"
"Nope. This is one of those 'explain in person' situations."
"Good luck. Hopefully you won't be grounded until the wedding."
"We still need to set a date for that.
"It wouldn't stop him from grounding you until then."
"Well, technically, I'm supposed to be grounded right now." Ed said with a laugh. "I gotta go, Mr. Cranky is asleep and I need to lie him down before he wakes up. Love you see you soon."
"I love you too, and don't worry so much about what your brother thinks. He'll grow up soon."
"Not soon enough on this one."
Ed hung up, hating to say goodbye yet but meaning it about putting his son to bed. It was nice to know that at least one person in his life trusted him and believed him. The next few weeks were probably not going to help matters. At least with his brother.
Upstairs, Ed laid the baby down before pulling out his journal to begin planning. There was a lot to do here. He needed to help this place, he needed to help these women, and he needed to fix the rift between him and Al.
Mustang-Elric Residence
11:00pm
Roy was sitting in his study, filling out paperwork that had to be turned in by the end of the week. He no longer felt it necessary to hide and otherwise delay paperwork, but he had been gone several weeks and the work had piled up. Hawkeye had been with him, so there hadn't been anyone there to keep everyone in line either. His other adjutant, whom he still couldn't name, had been left in charge of the office while they were gone.
The man had done an adequate job, but he was no Hawkeye. Roy was just going to have to get used to him though, because Riza had recently taken a gar more important role in his life, by his side instead of at his back. He didn't know how long he would be allowed to keep her in his office now though. Perhaps he could have her placed in Ed's instead?
Roy was sidetracked from this thought process by the knock on his door and arrival of his younger son. Alphonse hobbled slowly to the chair, using the cane as little as possible, before sitting delicately. Over the five years he had been a suit of armor he had learned to do everything delicately to avoid breaking furniture and people. It was now ingrained in him so that even though at this point he could hardly lift a chair, let alone break one, he still treated everything around him like it was made of spun glass.
Roy smiled at the boy, to ensure that the now fifteen year old knew that Roy was happy for the interruption. Al sighed deeply. "I think I messed everything up Dad."
"…That's usually Edward's line." Roy said as he set down the pen and gave Al his full attention.
"I… He's been telling me the truth this whole time hasn't he?" Al said as he picked at a loose string on his shirt.
"Yes. He has. I have never seen Ed actually lie to you about anything Al. In fact, if he can't tell you something about a case or anything, he tends to just tell you he's busy or doesn't want to talk about it."
"He really did save Yuery's life?"
"Yes."
"So Yuery really isn't his son."
"I didn't say that. Yuery's as much his son as you and Ed are mine, or Ping and Huan are Ling's. But no, he didn't create the child."
"I talked to Winry earlier. Rose explained the whole thing to her. Ed isn't William's father, either is he?"
"No, he isn't. Though if it became necessary, I'm sure he would just as he is for Yuery."
"I think I owe my brother a lot of apologies."
"Start by telling him you believe him. That may be the only apology you need. Now get to bed, it's late and you're still healing." With that Roy waived the boy away and picked back up his pen. He hoped Al did as he was told, Al still had a way to go before he was back to normal size and strength even with Mei adding some therapies to his treatments.
Two Days Later
Mustang- Elric Residence
2:00 am
Edward had arranged for Maddie and her daughter Ella to continue on to Rush Valley, but Rose preferred the idea of Central. She had assured Ed that she would find a job and get back on her feet quickly, though he assured her that though he fully expected her to move forward as he had told her before, he did not want to rush her into her housing choices.
He had explained that he and his Dad were both officers, Maddie was not comfortable with that, but Rose seemed on the fence. Ed assured her that if it was too hard on her, he would find different housing for her like her had for Maddie. He had also called for a car, something he almost never did, but wasn't going to have these children walking that far in the middle of the night.
When they finally arrived at his home, he was very tired. He offered to carry Daniel inside but Hannah insisted she could carry her brother. It wasn't far so Ed gave up the argument. He was carrying Yuery and several bags. Rose carried William and the remaining bags as Ed unlocked the front door and let them all inside as he informed them that they needed to take off their shoes because his dad insisted.
Hannah was forced to finally put Daniel down to take off their shoes, much to Ed's relief. He wasn't looking forward to fighting with the child over the safety of carrying the boy up the stairs. They were all being relatively quiet, but it was still six people in the foyer at two in the morning. A light came on at the top of the stairs, and moments later his dad, Roy Mustang appeared on the staircase.
"I thought I heard your voice Edward." Dad said as he came down the stairs, before freezing when he saw all the people with his son who looked sheepish. Roy sighed. "Do we need to look for a bigger place?"
"I don't think so, maybe?" Ed said as he scratched his head. "I'm pretty sure this is temporary but I don't have a real plan yet."
"I would be surprised if you had. Hello, I'm Ed's Dad, Roy Mustang." Roy said turning to the guests, before noticing that two of them were Ishbalan. He froze for half a second, long enough for Ed to notice, but not long enough that anyone else had. Ed felt stupid, it had never occurred to him to worry about Roy's reaction, spending too much time worried about Rose. It would have to wait for sun up though because he didn't have enough energy to worry about it tonight.