Well hello again, and Happy Holidays!

Um...yeah I'm really sorry about...the super long wait. I know it's nearly been a year. I'm sorry. Life ran me over and neither me nor Mii-ch4n had the time to type. Earlier in September I had thought that both of us could work on typing this and then we got pummeled with projects and homework and group work and such.

I have a Facebook account : XFeli-Chanx I am the one with the picture of Ed sliding off the hospital bed.

Also I have a new blog, and Mii-ch4n thinks I should link it here and so do I. It'll also be added to my profile I suggest you read that or the FB one. More likely I'll be updating the blog more often.

This is it guys! The true end to this FMA tale.

I hope you have all enjoyed the story and I thank you so very very much for all the reviews and favorites and follows. You guys are the best. And I love reading your feedback. So again thank you again for coming along on this ride.

Well, that's it! I hope you will all enjoy this chapter and thanks for reading Beauty and the Bastard/BastarBeast.

Edward waved to Elysia as her mother led her out of the sitting room. "Don't worry, Gracia. I'll pick up the toys."

"And I'll help too," Maes chimed in after he had stooped cooing over Elysia and kissed her goodnight. Turning to Ed he sighed, "isn't she just the cutest?"

Ed chuckled as he squat down and began picking up some of the dolls he had transmuted for the young girl. "Yeah, pretty adorable," he said as he shook his head with laughter. The two of them picked up the dolls, blocks and other toys that had been spread around the sitting room in a peaceful silence for a few minutes.

"Dinner was good," Ed said as he tossed a few blocks in the basket at Maes' knee.

Maes hummed. "Yes, it's gotten better since she first started again as a human. And judging by your reactions at dinner there's a large difference in taste than before?"

"Yeah, probably because now she can taste as she is making the food – It was still good then, but there's a huge improvement," Ed sat back and looked around the darkened sitting room for a moment as some of the candles had run low or had been previously snuffed out.

"How's your brother and his girl?"

"They're not dating…yet," Ed laughed and looked up at the decorated ceiling. "They're doing good. Winry is getting more patients that need her medicinal skills, rather than her mechanical ones and she's a little upset about that."

"You'd think she'd be glad people aren't losing limbs," Maes sounded confused.

"Yeah, she is. She just wants to work on automail more," he watched as Maes nodded. "Al is doing good, I guess the guy in the bookshop in town is going to give him a job so that's good."

"You're proud of your brother aren't you?"

"Yeah, of course. He's got a job, he's gonna have a girlfriend sooner than later, and he's finally – literally – out of his shell…Of course I'm happy for him."

"And you'll be happy here?"

"I think so," Ed closed his eyes and stood up. "I'll have you all and Roy. I'll get to travel and learn more alchemy with Roy." He sighed with a smile. To be honest, he was excited to travel, it was something he had always wanted to do. He wanted to see the world and learn about other cultures and their styles of alchemy. And traveling with Roy would make it be even better – he'd have a travel companion and him and Roy would get to be truly alone. While he would be learning about cultures, Roy would be renewing business with firms that had believed he had disappeared. It would be doing both of them some good.

"The two of you will have fun. Honestly can't wait 'til you guys go. Me and Gracia will have the manor to ourselves for a bit," Maes chuckled.

"That's right," Ed nodded as he picked up the toy basket and moved it to the side of the room. "Riza and Jean are leaving to visit their families in a few days, right?"

"Yep, two days, and they're out the door too. Don't worry, the manor won't be too wrecked by the time you and Roy get back," he joked as he followed Ed out of the room.

Edward shook his head, laughing as he headed over to the trunk and suitcase he had brought from Winry's house. Grabbing both, he slung the suitcase over his shoulder and began rolling the trunk over to the stairs.

"Hey Shorty, need some help with that?" Ed twitched and slowly turned to look over his shoulder.

"What'd ya call me?" Jean laughed as he walked over and Ed cursed. Since the transformation back, Jean enjoyed poking fun at Ed – as the only person shorter than him in the manor was Elysia.

"Here, you start up first," the blonde grabbed the back end of Edward's trunk, and Ed huffed and rolled his eyes as he picked up the front. "One, two, three," Jean grunted as they lifted and started up the stairs. "Damn Kid, what do you have in here? Bricks?"

"No, just books and a few of my clothes that didn't fit in here," Ed lifted the suitcase a little off his shoulder.

"I have no clue how you were able to get this here," Jean grunted again. Once they got to the top of the stairs, Jean plopped down on the top step and lay down on the floor.

"It wasn't that heavy!" Ed moved the trunk on his own, so that it was back on its wheels.

"Maybe not to you," the other man retorted as he signed before getting up. "See you tomorrow, Kid," he waved as he walked back down the stairs.

Edward looked at the picture frames that had been cleaned and replaced while he was away. New ones were mixed in with the old – it made him smile, especially when he noticed a few shots of him and Roy that he didn't remember posing for.

Opening the door to their room, Ed noted that Roy must have been in recently as some of the gas lamps were still on. Setting his things down off to the side of the door he turned off all but one, figuring that either he or Roy would be retiring for the night soon.

Going over to the dresser, he took out a pair of smooth, loose fitting, black pants and a similar fabric red, long sleeve shirt. Both were a little big on him – Winry had hoped he had grown while he was away, as they had been a recent gift from her.

Edward walked out and down the hall just a little farther to where he saw that the library's door was propped open. Stepping inside, he smiled at seeing Roy hunched over his desk in front of the fireplace. There were a few small stacks of sealed envelopes that Edward knew were to try to get back in touch with other alchemists, businesses and friends.

Edward's eyes drank in the sight of Roy, he hadn't seen very much of him today and knew he really shouldn't interrupt him right this moment. He wanted so badly to be near Roy and to relearn him – but they had yet to have the chance. When he had been recovering, either Al or Winry would make themselves known, and never really left the two of them alone when Roy would visit. His eyes traced Roy's broad shoulders as the man stretched and his robes shifted. He couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to hold Roy now…

Shaking his head, he huffed and tried to walk around the desk casually. He sat down rather ungracefully on one of the couches that had been placed between Roy's desk and the fireplace. Edward grabbed the book on the coffee table, before he lay back and faced the fire. Smiling a little he decided that this was another thing he could get used to.

~/~/~

"So," Jean said, dragging out the word as he walked into the kitchen. Maes and Riza were the only ones in the room and he quickly slid over to Maes. "How much longer do you think until they do the deed?"

Maes gave him an odd look and Riza's eyes began to narrow. "Jean…"

"What? Elysia is in bed now!"

"Ohh, you mean that kind of deed!"When both blonds gave him dubious looks, he shrugged before saying, "Who says they haven't done it already?"

"Oh come on Maes. Even you're not that dense. You can practically feel the sexual tension between the two!" Maes nodded as Jean continued on. "I bet they'll shag tonight."

Riza's eyes widened, "I can't believe the two of you, is this all you men think about?"

Maes snorted and ignored Riza. "Why would they do it tonight? Why not wait until they are traveling, when they'll be all alone?"

"Perhaps they'll want a more familiar setting?"

Riza shook her head, a little disgusted with the both of them. When the two still continued to bicker about it, she whacked them both on their shoulders. "So you two know how childish you are acting? What does it matter?"

"Really!" Both men jumped as they nursed their shoulders, at the sound of Gracia's voice. "It isn't any of our business when or where a couple does such things," her face was a little red and she went to stand beside Riza, her arms crossed. Maes and Jean both looked down and muttered their apologizes. "Besides," Gracia laughed, smirking and taking every by surprise. "I doubt they'll even make it out of the library!"

~/~/~

Roy smirked a little as he watched Ed reach for his book. He'd known the blonde had been in the room for a while, and Roy did not need his previous superior sense of smell to know from how dark the blush on his cheeks were, what Ed had been thinking of. Shaking his head, he tried again to focus on the papers and half written letters in front of him.

Getting reconnected to the world was no easy business; Roy hadn't thought it would be, of course. But he hadn't been thinking it'd be so much paper work. He was writing letter after letter to previous acquaintances and old friends, trying to find a way to explain his sudden disappearance for two years. He wrote in the letters varying dates of when he would arrive at their homes or businesses and asking if they would prepare for two, as he'd have a companion with him. He glanced up from his current letter to and old friend in Xing, to watch Edward for a few moments.

Roy was glad that the blonde had agreed, quite happily, to travel with him. He would have hated to leave him behind and he had a gut feeling that he would be traveling for a few months, and at least now the traveling would be fair at the very least. He could imagine how they would pass their time, easily. Ed wanted to learn more about other cultures and types of alchemy, which Roy would gladly take part in. And Roy knew that they would banter with each other as always as they traveled, and that they would spend their nights together –

Roy shook himself, mournfully tearing his gaze away from the image of Edward relaxing and sighing through his lips, looking rather welcoming to Roy in the way the black silk bottoms were drooping around his waist and the way the shirt dipped low on his chest. Trying to refocus on the letter, he told himself if only he could just finish this on, he could retire for the night.

However he had barely written half of another sentence when Edward shifted and quietly groaned from where he was on the couch. Unable to recall his thoughts again, his gaze flitted from the half written letter to the blonde on his couch. Sighing in resignation, he smirked a little and put the letter away in his desk, and the pen back in its holder.

"Edward?" he asked as he propped his head up on his hand. He watched as the blonde jumped a little and tilted his head back to face him. "Do you want to head to bed?" Roy didn't miss the way Ed's cheeks began to redden, even as he turned his head back and attempted to slouch out of Roy's view.

"Yeah, just waitin' on you, Bastard," the blonde put a bookmark in his spot and turned back to Roy, not yet sitting up. "You almost done?"

Roy chuckled at the name calling and shrugged as he stood and began to walk around the desk. "With the letters? Nearly, however I am done for tonight." He leaned over Edward and smirked at him before murmuring softly, "I do hope you won't call me that in bed," Roy kissed Edward's lips quickly before standing again and moving slightly out of hitting range.

"No guarantee there," Ed glared mildly at Roy as he sat up and watched the man snap to extinguish the flames in the mantle.

"What a shame," Roy jokingly chided as he held out a hand for Edward to take. "Shall we go now?"

"Yeah, yeah," Edward grabbed his hand and began to walk quickly out of the library. Despite the blonde's attempts to prevent Roy from seeing how embarrassed and flushed he was, Roy could see it, easily and gently squeezed his hand and smiled as he felt it returned.

~/~/~

Once he heard Roy close the bedroom door, he shuddered a little and stepped further into the darkened room, toward the gas lamp. He had been anticipating this for the past few hours since he had come back to the manor that he now called home. He drew close to the bed and turned a little, not hearing Roy behind him. "Roy?" Edward heard himself let out an 'eep' as he found himself staring up at the said man, on the bed, who wore a smirk on his face.

Edward squirmed underneath Roy's weight and scooted himself further on to the bed. He opened his mouth to protest at Roy grabbing the hem of his shirt, when soft lips pressed against his own. As Roy's tongue gently slid over his, causing him to moan involuntarily, he felt Roy putting his arm behind his back and pulling him up into a sitting position. Just before Ed could wrap his arms around Roy, the man pulled back and he felt the fabric of his shirt slide up his chest and over his face. He opened his eyes as he heard it land on the floor.

Golden eyes narrowed playfully at Roy's laughing blue ones. Two could play this game after all. Edward shifted his hips quickly and flipped them over so he was straddling Roy's waist. With minor difficulty due to his metal fingers Edward tugged and pulled the knot of Roy's robe apart, as he kissed the man's lips in quick succession. Moving away the sides of his shirt sides, he ran his hands up and down Roy's chest, making him shiver at the touches. Edward gasped as Roy's hand snaked it's way behind his head and held him at the bas of his neck.

Edward pulled back for a moment, giving Roy a small smile. He saw a thoughtful look cross his lover's face as his hands came up to his chest. "What is it?"

"I never thought we'd be able to do this, like this," Roy murmured, moving his hand from Ed's neck to his cheek. "And I'm glad we can."

Edward hummed and leaned into Roy's touch, not quite sure what to say in response, but loved the way Roy was looking at him. Leaning down he closed his eyes and kissed Roy again. He let out a small groan as Roy's hand moved from his cheek, up past his ear and back into his hair as his other arm wrapped tightly around Ed's waist. He pressed himself further against Roy, shivering as the fingers at his side brushed along his skin.

He could feel Roy shifting under him, but didn't pay attention to the movements until he found them both rolling onto their sides. He took a breath and pulled away from Roy's lips, curiously looking into dark and playful blue eyes that gleamed in the light of the lamp. Before he could really question it, Roy rolled them again and Ed wrapped his arms around Roy's chest as he was now the one laying on his back, and pressed their lips back together.

He felt as though he couldn't get enough. Ed needed more of Roy's skin, of Roy's lips, of Roy's kisses that ignited a fire within him. He wanted to move, and by the way Roy was responding to him and pressing against him, Ed could guess he felt similarly.

Roy's hands made a shivery trail on Ed's skin as they slid down his sides and came to rest at his hips, just over the waistband of his pants. In his own way of consenting, the blonde rubbed his hips up to meet Roy's own and slid his hands down to his partner's waistband. Together the two of them laughed between kisses as they bumped noses and chins as they helped each other to remove their pants and underwear.

Edward stared up at Roy, a soft smile on his face as he took in the expanse of soft skin and muscled body above him. Roy held himself above Edward and he returned the smile. Neither moved for several moments; almost not wanting to break the quiet. Edward found himself moving first. He raised a hand to Roy's cheek, and then lifted his face to meet Roy's lips. He could feel Roy's arm buckle slightly as Ed's tongue slid into his mouth and a muffled moan sounding similar to Edward's name was uttered. Edward spread his legs around Roy and wrapped one around Roy's waist. Once he managed to lower Roy's waist enough, he wrapped his automail leg around him as well. Both men groaned as their erections pressed against each other and their kiss broke as they panted.

Edward could feel his cheeks reddening as he stared up into Roy's lust filled gaze. He was sure his own gaze was similar and believed he could see the faintest traces of pink on Roy's cheek bones in the dim lighting. Roy made the next move of the night. Ed gasped and pressed against him as Roy bent his head down and nipped at the blonde's neck. Edward tilted his head back against the pillows as Roy continued to trail nips and kisses up his neck and under his chin. The blonde whimpered as Roy teased at the sensitive skin. Ed tightened his grip on Roy's shoulders and rolled his hips up and let out a breathy moan.

"Lube?" Edward's face grew red at the husky tone Roy used as he whispered into Ed's ear. Before he could respond, there was a warm tongue toying with his ear. He made a quiet noise before Roy stopped and disentangled himself from the blonde's legs.

Roy came back to him, his fingers slick with the substance, and Ed wrapped his arms loosely around Roy's shoulders as the man hovered over him. He shivered as he could feel Roy's finger rubbing against him, before slowly beginning to slide in. Edward lightly dug his nails into Roy's shoulders while making an odd noise of discomfort as Roy added a second finger. After a moment he nodded for Roy to continue, attempting to relax himself again. Roy moved his fingers inside him, setting a steady pace. Ed leaned his neck forward and licked and nipped at Roy's neck as he began to suck on the skin of the collarbone, Roy touched something within him that made him shiver and bite down harder.

Roy was running his other hand over Ed's hip, rubbing it in a soothing way until that point, and now it moved to the blonde's erection. He stroked it slowly causing Edward to buck his hips and tilt his head away to pant. Edward's mind was becoming one tracked as his body tried to follow both of Roy's hands. "Damn it, Roy." He only got a husky chuckle in response.

For a moment, Ed didn't realize that Roy's fingers had left him, until he felt the head of Roy's cock beginning to push in. He didn't have a clue as to when Roy had lubed himself, but he already lost track of where that thought had been heading as Roy's thumb rubbed the tip of his member. Ed could feel the heat in his cheeks rise as he realized he was making all kinds of noises, and the way Roy stared at him as he fully sheathed himself inside and groaned out his name made Edward want to melt into the mattress.

Roy rocked his hips gently and Ed gasped and shivered. Roy slowly began to stroke him again with one hand and he was propping himself up with the other. Ed threaded his fingers through his short hair and pulled his head down and hungrily kissed Roy's lips. The two groaned and panted between kisses.

Edward let out a sharp cry as he came, his automail hand clenched in Roy's hair and his flesh hand on the back of Roy's neck. Roy came shortly after, breathing heavily into the crook of Ed's neck. They lay still like that for several minutes.

"I love you," Ed shivered under Roy as he turned to stare into his dark blue eyes.

"I love you too," Ed smiled as he kissed him.

~/~/~

Gracia sat in the sitting room, working on an old sewing project, by a sunny window. Jean and Riza had returned just under a week ago to the house and the preparations were complete for the manor the return of Roy and Edward. Maes and Jean were in the kitchen playing a card game, and Riza had gone into town to get food for dinner. Gracia stilled in her sewing and smiled as her daughter came running into the room, her teddy bear held tightly to her.

"Mommy, Mommy…" her daughter plopped down on the carpet and sprawled out on it. "I'm bored and so is Teddy."

"Would you like to help me sew?" Gracia laughed as Elysia vigorously shook her head.

"Can I see Uncle Al and Auntie Winry today?" the girl sat up, a pout ready on her face.

"Not today honey, Winry said she'd be busy," Elysia's pout grew.

"Mm, hey Mommy can you tell me that story again from last night?"

Gracia smiled and set aside her sewing as she nodded. "Come here," she motioned for her daughter to get on her lap, which she gladly did.

"You see, once upon a time, there was a beauty and a be-"

"BASTARD!"

Elysia squealed as she heard her Uncle Ed's voice from outside and jumped off of her mother's lap to greet both uncles. Gracia put a hand on her forehead and laughed to herself.