Keep Moving Forward
Keep Moving Forward
Mustang-Rockbelle-Elric Residence
6:00
Al had been up since four, unable to calm his nerves to sleep anymore. Mei had been up since five, because she had needed to pack. Dad had been up since five thirty because he had a lot to do before Tuesday when he was officially named Lt. Fuhrer. Riza had just gotten up, surprised that she was one of the last to rise. Roy had in and collected the boys as soon as he had showered and dressed, so they had been up for about fifteen minutes. Winry had just joined them as well, leaving only Edward to wake.
Winry then assured them all Ed had been awake at least since the boys had gotten up, but he had decided he wasn't getting out of bed. Al immediately assumed it was thanks to this trip Al was taking, even though Al hadn't said anything about looking into the journals or anything. Dad went to go check on Ed, and Al frowned about it all, still confused.
"Why is Edward so upset today?" Mei asked. "His Qi is so loud I can feel the negativity from here."
"I don't really know" Al said, "He seemed fine last night, but then he tries not to let me see when he's upset usually anyway."
Roy came back into the room then, and Al smiled at him. "Oh Dad, I'm leaving today, but before I do something terrible and forget I wanted to say happy birthday."
"Thank you Al, but please, don't" Roy said in return.
"I know we didn't really celebrate it as planned last year because Brother ended up spending most the night in your room because of nightmares, but it's different this year and-"
"It isn't Al. I'm sorry. This is not a good day for your brother, and to be honest, I'm not really in the mood to celebrate either. Perhaps next year. I love you Al, but please just let it go." Roy said, as he gathered a tray. "I'm going to go make Ed eat something. Winry are you okay with the boys? I know you probably need some sleep Ed said you stayed up with him last night."
"I'm fine, thank you. I'll just take a nap later." Winry said with a tired smile.
"Al," Riza said quietly after she checked to make sure Roy was completely gone. "Roy isn't going to want to celebrate his birthday on his birthday for a while, maybe ever. It's one of the biggest things that connected him and Maes when they first met. They had the exact same birthday. They celebrated it together every year since the academy. Your brother needing extra care last year because it was the anniversary of his loss helped Roy get through it, but he didn't deal with it either. Now it's really hitting him."
"…I didn't know it was Maes birthday too." Al said unhappily.
"I'm not sure Roy wanted you to know Al, but I felt you had a right to know. It's also the second anniversary of your brother learning he was a father, which he still feels a lot of guilt and stress over."
"Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow to leave." AL said sadly.
"Your brother would be angry with you Alphonse and we all know it." Granny Pinako said, she had been trying to avoid the conversation and had been standing out in the hallway with Havoc, who had let themselves in with Havoc's key. In short order Mei, Al and Granny had left with havoc to the train station.
Riza and Winry cleaned the kitchen and the boys, before Roy finally came back down with the now empty tray. "How bad were the nightmares Winry?"
"He didn't sleep." Winry said, "He didn't want to freak out like last year he said."
"I see." Roy said, frowning.
"I told him, you wouldn't care if he needed you. It doesn't matter that he's grown now, and he's engaged and your engaged, you're still his Dad and if he needs you its okay." Winry said, frowning as well. "He doesn't want anyone thinking he's weak."
"I'll talk to him about it. It hardly a common thing for him to need extra support. If he needs me to sit with him every year I will. It's not a big issue."
"See, that's what I told him, but you know his pride." Winry said with a sigh.
Riza decided quickly, that the best solution to both men's woes was for the women to disappear for the day and let them spend it just them and the boys. This would let them work it out without worrying about being overheard. She therefore suggested that she and Winry go finish packing up her apartment. Roy agreed it was a good idea, but like sending Al and Mei with Havoc, Roy insisted they have at least Breda come help them.
11:00am
Roy had enjoyed the morning spending time with just his grandsons and pets, but was relieved when Ed finally emerged from his room because Ed had been having a hard time emotionally lately. Ed plopped down on the floor in the living room where Roy and the boys had been playing most of the day so far. "Good morning." Roy said as he smiled at his son.
Ed's only concession to it being day was he had thrown on a pair of jeans, but he was still in his sleep tank and barefoot with his hair flowing around his shoulders. He still looked tired but better than he had at breakfast. "Hey. Where's everyone?" Ed smiled at the boys, Yuery was busy as usual these days with his blocks, Will was playing with a stuffed horse he liked.
"They all abandoned us for various reasons like travel and packing. It's just us until at least dinner. Did you sleep at all." Roy said, as Hayete wandered in and stared in the way Roy recognized as him needing to use the restroom. He had transmuted a pet flap on the backdoor yesterday, and Cobalt and Franklin both seemed fine with using it but Hayete was still insisting on the door being opened for him.
"I slept this morning yeah, I'm gonna go let the dog out and get some juice, I'll be right back." Ed said as he stood back up with a groan. It didn't matter that he was still young, his body felt old some days. He let the dog out and drank a full glass of juice before placing it in the sink, checking on the dog, and returning to the living room.
"Next time Ed, just come knock on my door. It's okay really. Riza understands, she has her fair share of nightmare too." Roy said as Ed sat back down and Roy leaned over to hug him. Yuery noticed they were hugging and came to sit in Ed's lap and pushed between them.
"I don't… I'm not a little kid, I shouldn't need to run to my Dad to help me get through the night." Ed said and Yuery covered Ed's mouth. Slightly muffled Ed added "I think he said this conversation is over."
"I disagree Yuery, this is important." Roy said to his grandson, Yuery frowned in response.
"Daddy's sad Yeye. Sad." Yuery offered with a frown, meaning he was asking why Daddy was sad.
"I'm okay Yu." Ed said as he hugged the boy a little tighter. William noticed them, and crawled over to pull himself into a stand before patting Ed's knee. Ed reached down and pulled the boy up into the hug as well. "You boys certainly know how to make Daddy feel better."
"Makes sense. I always feel better when my boys want to snuggle." Roy said as he hugged the three of them. "Equivalent Exchange. Ed, If you need me, especially today, I need you too."
"I- But today is your birthday Dad and I already ruined it last year, I don't want to keep ruining it." Ed said, slightly muffled.
"Okay, I wasn't going to say this especially not now with everything else you have been through the last couple of months, but… No, Envy ruined this day for me. Probably for life. Maes and I shared a birthday Ed. It's easier to just forget today than to celebrate it." Roy said then pulled away just enough to look Ed in the eyes. "Envy. Ed. Not you. Don't go there. I asked Hughes to interfere with what you boys were doing. I asked him to keep an eye on you. Envy decided to take his life. You did nothing wrong."
Ed nodded, but still looked sad which Roy had expected. His son was one of the most empathetic and guilt driven people he knew. Roy smiled at Ed before adding. "I'm thinking from now on I'm just going to celebrate my birthday a week late and be done with it. At my age birthdays aren't that important anyway."
"Sounds good Dad." Ed smiled, and dropped the subject for now, instead switching topics. "So, you get sworn in next Tuesday right? Are they doing it publicly or just in the Fuhrer's office?"
"It's a public ceremony, and Grumman plans to officially introduce the Council of Twelve at the same time. Riza is on the Council. So is Heidrich. Grumman went and stole both my adjuncts." Roy said with a sigh. "Now I have to find a new one, though I was very pleased with Riza's promotion, she deserved it."
"Yes she did. What happens to the rest of your staff? DO you keep them or are they reassigned"?
"I retain an adjutant and a bodyguard; the rest of the staff is reassigned." Roy stated, "However, at this point it looks like they will be named to Riza's office staff."
"Ah okay, that makes sense." Ed said before frowning. "They aren't trying to promote me again are they?"
"Not yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't before we move forward with the Ishbalan Restoration. I have been assured that you will be transferred East with me while we work on that, Riza too. And our staffs, but I can't promise anyone else for sure."
"I need to finish clearing the Labs, and the state exams are coming up, we already pushed them back once, I didn't want to do so again. Russell is applying."
"I heard. How do you think he'll do?"
"Well, he's a moron but he isn't stupid. He should do well on the test. Hopefully he will then stop this whole pretending to be me." Ed said with a sigh. "Well, I think they are both ready for a snack and I'm a bit hungry myself."
"Very well. Pick a restaurant I'm going to take advantage of my current office staff and have it delivered." Roy said.
Colonel Edward Elric's Office
9:00 am
Edward had debated it greatly, and in the end decided that Winry and Dad were right, bringing the boys into the office should be reserved for days when he wasn't dealing with the labs. Luckily, Dad was able to stagger it so on days when Ed had to deal with the labs, Dad was doing paperwork all day, so he could keep the boys instead.
Ed refused to hire a nanny. He hadn't changed his mind on the subject even with the greater workload and a second child, Winry and Dad agreed for the most part, so they had everything perfectly scheduled. Mondays and Wednesdays the boys came to Ed's office as he reviewed State Alchemist Applications. Tuesdays and Thursdays they came in with Roy as he reviewed and approved paperwork, but had no meetings, and Fridays they went to work with Winry because it was her stocking day and both men were required in weekly meetings.
Today was Monday, so the boys arrived with Ed first thing before almost everyone in the office. Havoc was already there, but the rest of the desks were still empty. A hot mug of coffee awaited Ed on the corner of the desk, next to today's applications.
Yuery was cranky this morning, having been woken at four by William kicking him. William was also cranky, because he had more teeth growing in. With both sons having a bad morning by the time Ed had reached the office he was also cranky, which Havoc could see as soon as Ed came in. Havoc had also worked under Mustang for years, and had learned from Hawkeye that when the boss was cranky, just keep working. Even if the Boss wasn't working himself.
So, Havoc was ignoring the inner office that held the Elrics, and was happily typing along on his own typewriter, soon developing a large stack of paperwork that needed to be signed by the staff, and Yuery screaming in the inner office. William soon joined in the screaming, and Ed appeared in the doorway. "Havoc. Please. Could you run up to the General's office and ask him if he left the blue bag in the car?"
"Yes sir. Is everything alright sir?" Havoc asked as Yuery appeared and attempted to climb his father's leg.
"No it's not, I seem to have forgotten the bag with the medicine in it, and Yuery had a fever this morning, not high enough to bother the doctor, but he's still uncomfortable." Ed replied, sounding very tired.
"Do you need me to watch them for awhile?" Havoc asked as he stood. He would go ask about the bag first, of course.
"No. I'm fine, don't worry, I just need the bag please… and more coffee."
Havoc disappeared and Ed shut the door, barely hearing the arrival of the rest of his staff over the sound of his angry son. Yuery was angry enough that once again, items around the room were warping. Ed pulled at his ponytail in frustration and clapped to set the room right, while William walked around the edge of his playpen yelling in sympathy of his brother. Ed was pretty sure he was going to go deaf if the noise level continued much longer, but he picked back up the angry two year old and smoothed his curly black hair down as he shushed the child. Yuery's large green eyes were brimming with tears, making Ed feel bad for feeling so frustrated.
Finally, Havoc returned, with Riza and Roy behind him, along with the requested blue bag. Roy came into the inner office without bothering to knock and took the toddler from Ed's arms. "Ed, I've told you before, if you're upset he'll get more upset. It is better to just walk away for a minute. I'll calm him, you take care of what you need to."
"What about you Dad? You have meetings and stuff, it's Monday." Ed replied even as he let go and let Roy take the child. Yuery's screams quickly became hiccupped sniffles.
"I'm being sworn in in a few days, they haven't given me anything, they sent everything on to you." Roy replied as Yuery laid his head on Roy's shoulder and started absently petting the medals on his grandfather's coat. Roy took this in stride like everything else.
Roy then dug through the bag and pulled out the fever medication to offer the toddler as he addressed Yuery. "Come now, You can't possibly frown without trying it."
"No Yeye." Yuery whined with a frown.
"Yes, Yuery." Roy replied calmly and offered the cup to the child. Yuery sighed deeply, but took the medicine as instructed. Roy then walked in slow circles around the office as he hummed and Ed sat at his desk reading the files.
"Why did I end up with all of this anyway? I know I'm completely taking over the State Alchemist program, but half of this is about Ishbal budget. Shouldn't that still be going to you?"
"Yes it should, I'm sure that was a mix up. Just separate out the Ishbalan paperwork and I'll go over it when I have him calmed down."
Havoc had watched them for a few more minutes, before he shut the door and instructed the office to stay quiet to keep Yuery from waking up. It reminded Havoc a bit of back when they were all in East City and Yuery had become somewhat a team mascot.
Roy got Yuery to fall back to sleep then laid the child on the couch and sat next to him with a stack of files and began reading through them. Ed continued to sit at his desk and signed his way through his own stack of paperwork. He looked up a few minutes later, to find his Dad had fallen asleep. This was not unexpected, Dad had been avoiding paperwork so long at this point it would have been more surprising if he'd still been awake. Ed tried to rub the sleep from his own eyes as William rubbed his eyes and yawned, Instantly Roy was asking if everything was alright without opening his open eyes. Ed nodded as he yawned again before stepping over and lying on the second couch with William on his chest.
Resembool
Rockbell Automail Outfitters
Granny had brought the box of Hohenheim's Journals up from the basement, and Al had spread them out across the study floor, with Mei beside him. Together, they began by putting the books in order based on the dates on the inside covers.
An hour into the process, Al opened a book ,with a note attached to the inside cover.
Dearest Edward,
I instructed your mother
to ensure you left
These Journals alone
until you were old
Enough to read them.
Therefore, you
Should be about sixteen now.
I know I kept many things
From you, I kept just as many
From your mother. I hope you
Can both forgive me one
Day. Inside these books is the
Truth.
Just remember son, the
Truth is a dangerous thing
And it is never pleasant.
Remember I love you.
P. B. V. N. F. H. E.
03/03/99
Alphonse felt a great wave of anger and grief at these words, not because he wasn't addressed, the date was just a month after Ed's birth. No, he was angry at his father because JUST ONE MONTH after his brother's birth, the man was already planning on leaving their mom. AND YET AL WAS HERE. He had a second child with her, already planning to leave her. What was wrong with that man? He didn't love their mom. He didn't love Ed. He didn't love Al. Al doubted the man had ever loved anyone at all.
Mei hugged him tightly, she knew how badly it hurt for your Father to behave as if you don't matter, all of her siblings did. After a minute Al said. "Well, this is the first one, I think we have them all in order now, how many in all?"
"Thirteen." Mei said. "The rest appear to just be gibberish."
"Okay, set them aside and I'll look over them later." Al replied as he picked up the tall stack of small books. "I'm going to get started on these now." Al sat at the desk as he opened the first book. He didn't read as fast as Ed, but his eyes weren't as practiced either. However, he should be able to read and copy at least the parts of the books that seemed important to ship to Ed. Sending Ed the original copy would just end bad for them all. Ed was too angry to think straight about it, but this could hold answers they truly needed.
"Do you need any help?" Mei asked.
"I don't think so." AL said," I'm sorry,but for now I think maybe it should be just me reading this."
"I understand, these are personal. They are your legacy, and who knows if there's anything dangerous in them?" Mei said with a smile. "Well, the least I can do is get you some tea. I'll be back."
Al nodded absently, still staring at his father's note. It was probably the only physical evidence that either brother would ever receive that their birth father had considered either of them at any point in time. Al was afraid of what he would find in these journals, but he was more afraid of what else could be waiting for them that these journals could have warned them about had they bother to read them.
Al lifted the note just enough to read the note underneath. It was the eldest journal began in 1589 and completed 1590. Four hundred years. Proof in a way, that they were sired by something not quite human. Al shook his head to clear it and opened the book.
1589. 10. 04.
I would give anything to shed the name given
to me by the monster who killed them all, but
I have no other. It shall then be my penance for
failing to see the truth.
Once, I was only Twenty-Three. I miss that time,
in a way. However, Master designed to use my
blood to make a monster. He succeeded. With my help,
he killed them all. My lack of knowledge is no excuse
for the events that took every man, woman, and child
from the Earth.
I don't know where the creature went. I will soon have to
find the will to search for it, this monster now wearing
my face. I think I'm going to record it all,
so that it never happens again.
-Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim
Several pages were roughly removed between entries, Al assumed Hohenhiem removed pieces he felt were unimportant.