Author's Notes: Just so you all know, I didn't mean to leave everyone on a cliffhanger for so long. No internet means no posting, which sucks indeed. Thank you everyone for sticking with me and reading! It means a lot.

i would part the sea
part three: relief

A single gunshot rang out in the air, echoing in the hallway, and then there was silence.

Still on his knees with his hands in the air, Roy blinked. Aidan stood completely rigid in front of him wearing an expression that spoke of terror and also wonder, his dark eyes wider than ever before and his eyebrows raised, almost like he had seen a ghost.

The sound of something hitting the floor like a sack of potatoes almost made him start. He somehow managed to tear his eyes away from his son and look back at the slumped and prone body of the man that had been holding a gun to his head seconds ago. Blood began to seep out of his head and pool around him, his gun lying slack in his hand.

That was when it hit Roy, like a punch to the gut that forced him to suck in air. He hadn't been shot. Instead, his would-be assassin had been shot by…

"Not on my watch," Riza proclaimed in a flat tone as she lowered her own handgun. She wore a hardened look on her face, her normally bright eyes filled with a cold glow, her lips pressed together in a thin line. Despite the fact that she was still in her wedding dress, she looked remarkably like the soldier that had promised to guard his back all those years ago.

It was only when they connected eyes with one another did that sight fade away. He saw shame in them, not because she had killed a man. She probably felt guilt for having not been here with them the entire time, at almost failing to protect them. When her eyes flickered to their son, he watched as she pulled back in on herself, reigning in her pain, the same way that Aidan did, as he had learned it from her. Now Roy recognized the look on Aidan's face and the shame in Riza's eyes.

She had killed a man in front of him. Roy knew immediately that Riza would be plagued with the fear that Aidan would see her as a killer and not as his greatest protector and source of comfort.

Just as Roy opened his mouth, the man pointing a gun at Havoc leaped forward to grab hold of Aidan. Before Roy could do anything, the man was stopped dead in his tracks when Riza snapped the gun up in his direction, aiming it directly at his head. "Don't you dare touch my son," she growled.

"Mom!" Aidan burst out, as if coming back to life. He ran full speed towards her, past Roy, and Riza bent down just in time to catch him in one of her arms, the gun still trained at the other man. Of course he would go to her. Riza was Aidan's rock, his constant, his guiding light, just as she was Roy's. It would make sense that the first thing he did was the same thing that Roy wanted to do himself. Riza pressed the side of her face into Aidan's hair, kissing the top of his head, and held onto him tightly, but she never looked away from the man she was holding at gunpoint or closed her eyes. They weren't in the clear yet.

With their leader down, it was clear that the other lackeys were frightened and unsure of themselves, making things a little more dangerous for their hostages still. The men holding onto Alphonse and May looked at each other somewhat nervously. The one holding onto May pressed his gun into her temple and began to back up towards the blown out door, using the princess as a human shield. "If you don't let us go, I'll shoot her!"

"I'd reconsider that statement if I were you."

The man jerked around, only to find that Catalina stood behind him and was pointing her service weapon at him. Unlike the stony expression on Riza's face, Catalina's was all fury. She was not afraid to put her sharp shooting skills to the test if the man made any rash decisions. The man's eyes nearly bulged out of his head when Roy began to stand up and pulled out his other ignition glove from his pocket. Due to his distraction, he didn't notice when May was able to slide a knife out of sleeve and grip it in between her fingers; he did notice when she flicked it as hard as she could into his foot, causing him to let go of her and howl in pain. He only stopped when Catalina hit him in the back of the head with the butt of her gun, collapsing into a silent heap on the ground.

With Havoc picking up the gun the man dropped, he and his wife aimed their weapons towards the men that were holding Alphonse hostage. Seeing that they were more than outnumbered, they both immediately let go of the younger Elric and threw their hands up in the air. Roy was caught off guard as five daggers slipped from May's fingers like water, slamming into the wall in a perfect circle. Her alkehstry burst to life as stone bindings were created from the wall and wrapped the men snugly into place, similar in style to Alphonse's own alchemy.

It was a bit shocking to see the normally cheerful princess so infuriated as she shook with anger, casting glares at the captive men and then a disgusted look at the dead body of the man that had nearly killed Roy. "To use an innocent child like that!" She only stopped shaking when Alphonse reached out for her, touching her on the shoulder. The furious face that had briefly touched his face was gone, replaced by one of comfort and something that looked a lot like sadness. She immediately melted, huffing once, before throwing her around his middle and pressing her face into his chest.

Roy rubbed at his mouth, watching the scene unfold before him and making sure that everyone was okay before he allowed himself to crack. If he looked back at Riza and Aidan, he knew that he would not be able to focus on anything else and he was frightened by what he would find, so he looked onward. Alphonse smiled down at May and wrapped his arms around her before looking up to Roy and nodding his head, confirming that they were alright. At least he could breathe a sigh in relief there.

Havoc was dragging himself to his feet, using the wall as a prop, and pressing a hand against his bleeding arm when Catalina rushed over towards him. She'd put her gun away while he still had a hold of his. Immediately she put one hand on his side to help steady him as she examined the multiple wounds that he'd suffered. "You big idiot, getting yourself shot," she grumbled. "You stepped in front of Mustang, didn't you?"

"Better a Captain than the Fuhrer," Havoc pointed out with a weak grin. Just as quick as it came though, the grin fell away from his face, panic suddenly appearing in his eyes. "Brandon?"

"He stayed with Fuery, just like we told him to," Catalina replied coolly as she looked at his head wound closer.

Catalina was still intently examining him when Havoc reached down with his free hand and pressed it against her slightly swollen belly, which stopped her inspection and got her to look him in the eyes. "And you two?" His touch was gentle. They contrasted each other so much, what with the bedraggled and bloody state his suit was in and the pristine look of her bridesmaid gown.

"We're fine," Catalina said in a much softer voice, smiling when Havoc leaned down to press his forehead against hers. She didn't seem to mind that blood got on her and ruined her makeup. Shouts from both sides signaled that help was on the way and Roy looked away from husband and wife to give them a private moment.

Now that he knew that everyone was okay though, Roy also could not avoid what he feared any longer. Sooner or later, he was going to have to come face-to-face with his son and admit to his wife that he had failed on some level to protect their son. Once again, he had managed to put an innocent life in danger. The truth was though, while he was terrified of confronting them, every inch of his soul ached to see them, to pull them both into his arms, to know that they were okay. He wanted to kiss Riza and hug Aidan and feel the warmth of their bodies, hear the beats of their hearts, feel the tickle of their breath on his skin.

When Roy turned around, it felt like the air was sucked out of his lungs. Riza was standing up straight and facing him, but Aidan was in her arms, clinging to her as tight as could be and his face buried in the crook of her neck. The side of her face was pressed against their son's head, her eyes closed and her face twisted into an expression of pain and relief at the same time, as she held onto him. Roy couldn't help but notice that she still had a hold of the gun in one of her hands, like she was afraid that she would need to use it again to protect him.

A piece of Roy's heart shattered. That was what he hadn't done, right? He hadn't been able to protect his son, not completely at least.

As if feeling eyes on them, Riza's opened and immediately locked onto his eyes. A storm of emotions clouded her eyes to the point where he couldn't pinpoint them all, reminding him so much of Aidan's eyes when Roy had been forced to sit him down. Roy's heart leaped into his throat and he nearly choked. It honestly felt as if time stood still in this moment. Once again, he felt locked away from them, unable to join them, on the outside desperately looking in.

But then there was a upwards swoop of the corner of her lips that he could see, and Roy practically stumbled towards them. When he wrapped his arms around them both, he closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. He could smell the rose perfume that Riza had put on and his own cologne that Aidan must've sneakily put on when Roy wasn't looking. Unexpected and yet not entirely unwelcomed, a few tears managed to slip out from underneath his eyelids and dropped onto his son's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," Roy pleaded, silently asking for their forgiveness as he kissed his son on the head and then Riza on the cheek. "I'm so sorry–"

"I should've been with you," Riza mumbled, sounding extraordinarily hurt.

Roy opened his eyes and caught the regretful expression on her face. It suddenly occurred to him that she not only felt guilty about her son having witnessed her kill a man, but also at having not been here to protect him. It was still her job to guard his back and keep him safe. And in her mind, because she had been separated from him, she had failed him. She wasn't only Roy's protector, but she was Aidan's guardian as well.

"You still saved me," Roy pointed out. His gaze dropped down to their son, who was still clinging to Riza as if he was afraid she would vanish if he let go. Lifting one hand up, he ran his fingers through Aidan's dark hair. His touch seemed to stir a bit of life into the boy, but he didn't pull his head from Riza's shoulder. "I only wish that I could have…"

He only wished what? That he could have spared his son the horror of nearly witnessing his father's murder? Roy had pleaded with the entire universe in his mind for Aidan to simply close his eyes, but the boy was too stubborn. It was like telling Riza to stay back and out of danger, only for her to disregard his orders and follow him into hell anyways.

All Roy could do was hope that Aidan was too young for him to remember most of what had happened today, but he was terrified that one of his first few memories that he could recall would be the time that his father was forced onto his knees and had a gun put to the back of his head. Would he grow to resent Roy for giving up so easily? Would he one day look down on him and scoff him for his weakness, for his immediate surrender? He was supposed to be the Fuhrer of Amestris, and it had taken a simple threat to bring him to his knees and accept his death so willingly.

"I've hurt him again, haven't I?" Roy murmured regretfully, tearing his eyes away, a burst of anger towards himself blossoming in his chest. The hand on Riza's back clenched into a fist, bundling the fabric of her dress. A sudden urge to scream wound its way inside of him. How useless could one man be when it came to protecting his family? "I'm a terrible father."

Aidan stirred in Riza's arms again, but this time, he pulled his head away from her. When he turned to face Roy, he didn't look up at him, keeping his eyes cast down. His arms, however, slid from Riza's neck and he twisted his body. When he held out his arms to Roy, silently asking for him, Roy's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. Never once had Aidan ever done something like this. The only time Aidan went to Roy instead of Riza was when his mother was asleep. If Riza held him, he never wanted anyone else.

The simple memory of Roy getting out of bed in the middle of the night and Aidan holding up his arms to be picked up came to him so vividly that it was like he was seeing that image side-by-side with Aidan now. It nearly stopped his breathing entirely.

His son wanted him. His son wanted his father.

A small smile escaped from Roy as he gently plucked Aidan from Riza's arms, his fingers sliding through his son's unruly hair as he splayed his hand on the back of his head. This time, when he breathed, a sweet relief filled his chest. He closed his eyes again and simply held his son against him. He felt Riza lay a hand on his arm and he twitched the fingers of his other hand until she gripped them with her other hand, the gun finally put away. It was only then that his heart truly began to steady itself, slowly returning to normal.

"You're a good dad," Aidan mumbled into his shoulder, so quietly that Roy almost didn't catch the words. He opened his eyes again and glanced down at Aidan, who wasn't moving. Maybe he had imagined them in a hopeful sort of fever. But then Aidan's grip tightened on the back collar of Roy's jacket. "You're my dad."

Roy's smile broadened. "That's right. I'm your dad. You're my Bug."

Aidan sniffed and leaned back slightly, finally lifting his eyes so that they were connected to his. They were so much like his own, dark and reflective, except now they were filled with a shiny film of tears. His cheeks were already puffy from crying and Roy noticed the tearstain on Riza's shoulder. So much like his. "I don't want you to leave," his son cried. "I don't want you to leave us ever again. Mom is sad when you aren't home and I miss you. Don't leave us again."

"I won't," Roy breathed out, pulling Aidan closer to him again as the little boy hiccupped on a cry and then sniffed a few more times. "I'm not leaving. I'm gonna be with you both from now on."

Riza smiled at them both and leaned her cheek against Aidan's back, whispering soothing words to him. Roy pictured all the times that she must have done that for him.

The nights when Aidan, his sleep schedule always so erratic and his dreams so vivid, would wake up in the middle of the night to bug him for a story, only to find Riza alone in bed. How he probably crawled into the bed and woke Riza up just enough where she would wrap him up in her arms under the blanket and he'd curl into a little ball as she promised that Roy would be back soon.

The days when they were out in public together and Aidan had to bite his tongue and call him "sir" or "General" or "Fuhrer" or "Mustang," anything but his first name or true title. Once they were home, Aidan would grow silent and distant until Riza sat down and played with his toy cars with him, the toys that Roy had bought him for his birthday because Roy let Aidan sit in his lap behind the wheel to pretend drive when they were parked. And Riza would tell him that his father loved him and wished more than anything that he could be there with them.

As far as Roy knew, Aidan had never once questioned why he couldn't acknowledge Roy as his father in public. It was an astonishing fact. Surely he had wondered. Surely it had confused him and made him feel distraught. Roy could only hope that Aidan had never once felt unwanted or abandoned, but judging from the way that Aidan was gripping onto him now, it was clear that he didn't feel it now at least.

Roy connected eyes with Riza again. She gave him that same soft smile that she'd worn when standing at the altar in front of him before everything had gone to hell. She was breathtaking still. He loved her. He loved her so much that it hurt.

If anyone had told him that he would fall in love so painfully with the young girl that had done her best to avoid him for his first months in her home while he studied alchemy, he probably would've laughed. Her? That girl? Sure, she'd made him soup and sandwiches and cleaned up after him, but she had been so quiet and serious. She was more like a ghost than a person to him, even if he had been curious about her. Getting her to open up had been just as difficult as learning alchemy.

But in a way, getting her to do so and becoming friends with her had been a lot like his first transmutation. He'd offered bits of himself, his history, his friendship, his help, in return for her own. His friendship for hers. Her kindness for his. His care for hers. Her protection for his. His love for hers. Her life for his. He may have been her superior officer, but they had always treated each other as equals on some level. He could and would not go anywhere without her and she refused to follow anyone but him.

Their lives had been a strange mess, tangled and interwoven so much that it was hard to tell where his life ended and hers began, but Roy wouldn't have traded it for anything. The only thing stopping him from facing down Truth itself for her was Riza herself. Then again, that was part of the reason why he loved her so much. She was so much stronger than he was in the end, and that was something he'd needed to become the man he was today.

Roy squeezed Riza's fingers and kissed the side of Aidan's head. Already, he could feel Aidan hold on him slipping, the events of the day having thoroughly exhausted him.

"Oy, Mustang!"

Looking up, Roy caught sight of Edward trotting towards them, Breda and Falman hot on his heels. "You're a bit late."

Edward came to a skidding halt when he spotted the bodies on the ground, specifically the one of Roy's would-be assassin. He blinked and locked eyes with Riza, who stared back blankly and nodded her head. Edward took in a breath and swept his eyes over the rest of the scene, watching as Breda went to help Catalina with Havoc, who was insisting he was fine, and then turning to Alphonse and May. Edward perked right up at the sight of his younger brother and the Xingese princess.

"We're okay, Brother," Alphonse spoke up before Edward could even say anything. "Where's Winry?"

"She's with the kids, Mrs. Hughes, and Elicia." Edward walked over to them, not scrutinizing them any less despite Alphonse's words. "Was anyone hurt?"

Alphonse inclined his head forward. "We were lucky, although Captain Havoc was injured."

May came to at that, pulling herself out of Alphonse's arms. She muttered to herself under her breath as she walked over to where Catalina and Breda were trying to convince Havoc to sit back down. He immediately stopped struggling when May walked in between the two of them and poked Havoc in the chest. "Stand still," she ordered. Quickly she drew a circle on the ground, similar to the one that she had drawn to save Riza's life, if Roy was not mistaken. Once Havoc stepped into it, she activated the transmutation circle. The three soldiers gasped in surprise when they realized that most of Havoc's injuries were closed up. "I'm sorry I didn't think to do this sooner, Captain."

"It's…" Havoc scratched the back of his head. Roy could tell that despite his amazement, he was at least a little unsure of himself and didn't know how to respond. After all, he didn't have the good kind of alchemy used on him very often. "No, thank you, Your…Majesty?"

As May chuckled and walked back over to smiling Alphonse and scowling Edward, Catalina quirked an eyebrow at her husband. "Oh, so you listen to her, but not us?"

Havoc shrugged his shoulders, grinning at her sheepishly. "She's a princess. You don't disobey royalty."

"I'm your wife and mother of your children!"

"You would've been seriously worried about me if I did listen to you right away without arguing," Havoc pointed out. "Pretty sure you would've thought I had a serious head injury."

Roy shook his head at them and then turned to look back at Riza, who was wearing something of an amused expression. In his arms, Aidan had grown still, his breathing soft and quiet. It was all Roy needed to hear to know that Aidan had fallen asleep. "Let's get him home."

Sighing, the amused look on her face gave way to a frown. "There's so much that has to be done here…"

"And it will get done, I assure you," Roy told her, "but right now, I just want to go home with my wife and son."

Riza's face only softened marginally, but it was enough for him to know that he'd won. He could tell that she wanted to do the same thing – just get away from this mess and cuddle up in bed together, all three of them, safe and alive. As much as he wanted to be with her, to really feel alive, he couldn't stand the idea of being parted from Aidan for even a little tonight.

"You go on ahead, sir," Falman said.

"We can handle things for now," Breda added.

Roy nodded his head gratefully. When Havoc looked ready to follow Breda, Roy cut in, "Stay with your family. Go get your son. I know it's killing you." Though Havoc looked somewhat guilty at having been caught red-handed in not thinking about his duties towards his superior officer, it took him a second before he opened his mouth to argue. "That's an order, Captain."

Havoc saluted him. "Yes, sir."

"An order from Mustang that I can agree with?" Catalina sighed as the two of them hurried to where Fuery was keeping their son safe. "Maybe he has the head injury."

Roy grinned faintly to himself as Riza rolled her eyes. No, he didn't have a head injury. Roy just knew that after a day like this, the only thing that was going to make anyone feel better was to be with their family. Havoc needed the reassurance of holding his son just as much as Roy did his own. He needed to kiss his wife and hug his boy and be alone with them to center their little world. That was something Roy could understand all too well. After all, it was exactly what he needed and, even though the wedding ceremony hadn't been completed, it was something that he could finally have and that was all that mattered to him in this moment.