Chapter 23: Last Chapter

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters of anime/manga. For those who like my writing, please read some of my others and don't forget to check out my Silent Hill fan fic.

Edward looked over at the sleeping colonel who was sitting back in his chair, his shiny black boots put up on the desk, and his thoughts towards something that probably made no sense. Dreams were the art of the mind and as such, it only made sense to those who put sense into it and from what Edward understood, the colonel never understood that. It had been some time since Edward had been promoted to general and won so many awards that he didn't want to pin them up on his coat in fear that he would develop a bad back problem. Alphonse was assigned to being a brigadier general two months ago and Edward was a general who looked over the army of the east alongside the other generals, but he was more of an eccentric, going after one Alchemic abnormality after the other. Most things were peaceful except for a few remains of the Philosophers, but they weren't that much of a threat. The destruction of the Philosophers did have the affect of causing a surge in alchemists and keeping each Alchemist in control was a problem, especially when some of them were possible Philosophers members.

"Colonel Stryker, is that any way for you to be at attention at this time in the afternoon," barked Edward and he nearly broke out laughing when he saw Sean nearly fall from his chair as he struggled to snap to attention. "At ease, Sean, you don't have to be so stiff when it's me, but with everyone else you might want to be at attention at all times."

"Yeah I know, I just thought there would be a few things I would be doing instead of just sitting here and watching my legs rust," said Sean with a yawn and he laid back while pulling out a book and started to read it while talking to Ed. "I just have a bit of a problem with doing nothing, that's not what I was hired for, I was hired to take care of military things, in peace I don't know what to do."

"Well you can try and get to know everyone under your command, plan ways to increase the quality of our troops," said Ed as he picked up a pen and started rewriting the equations that were on the board with his own and he noticed that Sean was focused on his right hand. "I've been looking up on attaching or remaking body parts, but it appears that wherever Vahov and Lust disappeared to they took the Philosopher's stone with them so I can't do any of those things."

"It's just as well, there will never be another human arm that is like mine so I might as well protect the last real limb I have," said Sean with a bit of lament in his voice and he walked over to the coffee pot to pour himself a cup of coffee. He had lost his legs when he was thrown out of the window and landed legs first onto the pavement, breaking both of them so badly that they would never heal enough to be at full capacity so he made the tough decision of removing them and having them replaced with automail legs. "It doesn't matter anyway, I'm living comfortably with a nice living space and I guess I can learn to enjoy the peace."

"I'm sorry that I can't really do anything about that after you saved my life and suffered for it. It seems like you have been suffering, but at the same time you help me so I have to suffer and getting nothing in return for it. Where is the equivalent exchange in all of that?"

"I'm going to be going to the opera tonight with Iristeis and then dinner," said Sean as he put his book down and looked at the time. "Would you like to join us with Winry, General?"

"Yes, thank you," said Edward a bit softly, but cheerful none the less.

"Good because you're paying," said Sean as he walked out of the door with his coat in his hand and then popped his head back in to add, "There is your equivalent exchange."

"What," choked Edward as the shock had forced a gulp of hot coffee down his throat.

The way the sun looked over the horizon as it set reminded Roy of the night that he and Riza first made love in that tent that was so safe, as if blocked out the war that was happening on the outside. He took a drink of his whiskey and continued talking to his good friend Hughes, who was just like the Hughes of his world, with the very same knack for making pictures of his daughter and it was good that he was alive again. Hughes had married the wife of the late Hughes and many people wandered if he had just been MIA the whole time. Trying to cover the gate part up was his concern and he had to stop the gate from being used like it was last, he just couldn't allow another army to come in like that, it was the worst time for all of that shit. Roy's mind kept slipping to another thought or another thing that developed, the relationship between him and Riza, the ever growing bond that they had was cemented in a passionate night. He could still remember every single last detail from that moment, from the feel of her as he penetrated her and the way her mouth felt on his neck. It was enough to make him very uncomfortable in his seat, but he managed to hide that last one from Hughes, who was too busy jabbering on about his daughter and wife.

"Dinner is finally ready after a few accidents," said Gracia as she brushed her hand against her apron before removing it and Roy immediately noticed some black markings on the apron and the faint smell of something burnt.

"I hope Riza is okay," laughed Roy, but he was silenced by a gun being cocked behind him and he went deathly pale at this before he turned to see an angry Riza staring at him.

"And just what might you mean by that dear," asked Riza, a bit of emphasis put on some words to get her message across. Keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you. "Well I'm so glad that you and Gracia could join us for our anniversary dinner."

"I didn't even know that you two were married," said Hughes as he sat down and then he got a curious look from Riza and Roy. "What can this date hold so much significance for?"

"Oh nothing special," said Roy, but his mind was wondering in another direction.

Flashback (this is a recount of what happened in the tent in as less graphic a manner as I can write.)

There she was, right next to him naked as the day she was born and in her eyes was a lust that looked like it would envelope them both as she moved her lips to his with her hand still on his zipper. She moved it up and down in a manner that made Roy moan with pleasure and then she lay on top of him while touching his lips with her own in a passionate kiss, two tongues wrapping around each other to become one while he did this. His hands moved all around over her body as they kissed and it massaged everywhere, causing her to moan in pleasure at the wonderful sensation that was going through her body as he massaged her breasts with his bare hands. A few minutes later she was sweating like a person walking through the desert with a fur coat on and she had finally managed to get his pants off of him. It was hard to move in that tent, but they did fine without it, his tongue playing with hers as he fulfilled her desires and penetrated her, causing her to cry out in a mixture of pleasure and pain. When she was fully adjusted to him he started to move a bit, keeping a slow pace, but gradually building up in his movements until he was having her screaming at the top of her lungs. Roy had placed his mouth over her own so she was screaming into his mouth, but it was all so good, the feeling of being inside her and the ay her screams sent tremors through his mouths. They didn't care who heard them now, all they cared about was what they had now, the moment when they were in their small tent making love to each other, the here and now. Their names shouting out in the distance.

Flashback end

"You know, we have got to go camping next year about this time," said Roy casually as he fooled around with his watch and he looked at Riza with a fox-like smile.

"Yeah and I think I know the perfect spot," said Riza as she smiled back and looked into his eyes.

Fin!