This was written for askerian in response to my Timestamp/Where Are They Now meme, where people could choose a story and request to see what happens a month years later. I figured I might as well post it up as an epilogue here too.

This time, Roy came prepared. He brought a number of toys with him from the finest toyshops in Central - the same stores he had once patronized when visiting Hughes' family had been a regular part of his life. The children greeted him with excited shouts and squeals, albeit some disappointment about where "Uncle Armstrong" had gone. Their parents' greetings were more restrained, polite civility and even a hint of real pleasure mixed with wariness. But at least nobody was punching him in the head yet this visit, so Roy gave them his most charming smile, and said nothing.

They had some time to chat in the living room, polite, inconsequential things while dinner cooked and the children were busy on the floor with their new toys. Dinner itself was much as he remembered, a chaotic melee of hot steam, shrill shouting voices, sweet smells and savory food, and this time Roy was able to enjoy the meal with no reservations.

As soon as dinner was over Ed declared himself in charge of the dishes and ducked away into the kitchen. Roy had been counting on this; he quickly volunteered his own assistance in repayment for the meal and ducked into the kitchen after Ed.

"What do you want, Colonel?" Ed said warily as Roy stacked an array of non-matching plates in the sink. "You're up to something. Don't even try to tell me you're not. Didn't I make my answer clear enough the last time you came?"

General Roy Mustang ignored the slip, leaning back against the counter with his elbows propped beside his hips, and considered how to go about this. He had come prepared this time in more ways than one. "I have a job proposition that might interest you," he began.

Ed made an impatient noise. "I already told you, I'm not coming back to the military," he said curtly.

"Who said anything about re-enlisting?" Roy said mildly. "No, what I had mind was more in the nature of a civilian contract, one in research and development."

"Same damn difference!" Ed said explosively, turning on Roy with a dangerous glint in his gold eyes. "I'm not going to help the military blow people up in bigger and better ways, either! Leave me out of your dirty dealings - I don't do that shit any more!"

"What would you say," Roy began, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tightly folded sheaf of papers, beginning to unfold it like a newspaper. "If I told you there's a new technology in development which would target weapons instead of humans?"

Ed gave him an incredulous look and snatched the paper out of his hand. His expression changed as he read, the angry wariness giving way to an intrigued interest, and Roy pursued his advantage. "You're quite an ambitious and gifted young man, Fullmetal," he said, "and this quiet country life is peaceful enough, but it doesn't suit your energies. Reports from your friends and family seem to indicate that you're growing increasingly restless out here, trapped in the confines of this pastoral life. A challenge like this is just what you need, I think. You could really be part of something amazing."

The paper crinkled in Ed's fist. "This will never work," Ed scoffed, folding the prototype into a sloppy triangle. "The design is ridiculous. They don't know the first damn thing about energy transferrance. All this will do is blow themselves up instead of their enemies."

"Ah, but you can see the idea, can't you?" Roy said smoothly. "You're already thinking about how it could be made to work. That's exactly why this team needs you, Edward. Think about it."

There was a long pause, and Roy could see Ed struggling with himself. His grip tightened, crushing the paper further. "I won't leave my kids," Ed said at last. "I won't abandon them."

"Who said you had to?" Roy said hastily, tacking into this wind. He wasn't sure what exactly was driving the dangerous fire lurking in Edward's eyes, but it was always better to work around Fullmetal than to meet him head-on. "Alphonse works on alchemical theory problems my mail; why can't you do the same? You'd only have to come to Central for a few days out of a month, to oversee the test runs themselves. And have you considered," he said as Ed opened his mouth to protest again, "that you could bring your children /with/ you?"

Clearly Ed had not; he stood there with his mouth open while Roy continued, taking a step forward and laying his hand on Ed's shoulder. "It would be a good experience for them, to get out of this secluded corner of the country and see the capital. They would learn a lot, and certainly enjoy themselves. In fact, you could bring your whole family along, like a little holiday. It's all very well to stifle yourself, Edward, in pursuit of some penance or writing old wrong; but is it fair to ask them to stifle themselves, as well?"

"You're still an ass, Colonel Mustang," Ed snapped at him, shoving him backwards and brushing Roy's hand off his arm. He balled the schematic into a wad of paper, and shoved it into his pocket. "I'll think about it."

~end.