“Roy, I’m so glad you could make it.” Gracia smiled warmly as she opened the door. “Please, come in.”

“Thank you.” Roy nodded, and Gracia smiled fondly at the awkward way he entered the house. He always seemed as though he felt out of place in their home, as though he shouldn’t be there. It was both sweet and sad, and Gracia took his coat with another smile. She wasn’t an idiot - and even if she had been, her husband wasn’t. Maes was also honest to a fault. She knew full well why Roy always seemed uncomfortable on these visits. He looked more so today, in his stiffly pressed shirt and slacks.

It didn’t bother her. The only thing that did, really, was not knowing how he felt about her. Oh, she knew he liked her - she doubted he’d have given his blessing on her marriage if he hadn’t. But she wondered if he thought that she resented him, or was uncomfortable with him. She wasn’t, in the least.

“Roy! You made it!” Maes burst into the room, grinning and gangly and holding a glass of wine. “I was starting to think you’d blown us off again! But then I thought ‘what kind of guy blows off his own promotion dinner?’.”

“I was running late,” Roy said, vaguely. “Paperwork.”

“Yeah, right.” Maes winked and slung a friendly arm around Roy’s shoulder. “Come on, it was a girl wasn’t it? I bet you can‘t keep them off you, now that you‘re a Colonel.”

“It wasn’t a girl.” Roy frowned and glared and Gracia smiled. How could she possibly resent a man who made her husband so happy? Regardless of anything that had happened before she had met them both.

“I’m going to check the chicken,” Gracia said, smiling and excusing herself. They talked about Roy often. He was a constant in their lives, and above that he was Maes’ best friend. He came up in conversation often, whether or not he was dropping by for Sunday dinner. And sometimes they talked about the way that Roy looked at Maes, and things that had happened many years ago.

Roy Mustang was in love with her husband. She knew this the same way that she knew the sun rose and the leaves fell from the trees in the fall. It didn’t bother her any. Why should it? Men could be so silly sometimes.

She left them to their own devices in the living room, fussing about in the kitchen over dinner. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she’d had with Maes last night, curled up in bed and drifting in that warm glow that followed making love.

***

***

Maes was already into the wine, and Gracia imagined he’d plied it on Roy by now. She was nervous. Maybe they shouldn’t say anything? What if they were just opening up old wounds? She took the chicken out to cool and returned to the living room, smiling brightly.

“…and so then I said ‘if that’s your dog, I really don’t think I want to see your sister.’!”

Roy had a glass of wine in his hand. Gracia wasn’t surprised. The two were on the couch, Maes sprawled as usual and Roy sitting half turned against the armrest. He was still sitting stiffly.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” she announced, settling herself down in an armchair. “Congratulations again, Roy. You certainly deserve it!”

“Thank you.”

“I knew it was gonna happen this year!” Maes exclaimed.

“You say that every year,” Roy pointed out.

“Yeah, but this time I was right!”

“Clearly you’re quite the prophet.”

She could see them together easily. She didn’t imagine that either of them had changed much, regardless of the passing of time. She wondered if she would feel differently if Roy were a woman - it was horrible, but she imagined she would.

Dinner was another round of stilted conversation that descended into Roy and Maes teasing one another and bantering. Gracia watched it all silently, smiling at them both. Roy complimented her on the meal - he always did - with a stiff sort of praise. This really was getting ridiculous.

“Roy my friend, you’re in for a treat tonight,” Maes exclaimed as he helped her clear the table. “Gracia’s got one of her famous apple pies in the oven. It’s like tasting heaven, I swear. Your taste buds are going to keel over and die from pleasure.”

“I don’t know if I can stay for dessert…”

“Of course you can.” Gracia smiled. “It’s still early.”

“I wouldn’t want to impose…”

“Geeze, Roy, we invited you!” Maes slung an arm around Roy’s shoulder and began steering him back into the living room. “You’re going to have pie. And another glass of wine. You’ve gotta relax.”

“If I didn’t know any better,” Gracia heard as they went into the living room, “I’d say you were trying to get me drunk.”

Gracia laughed and set the dishes in the sink. The pie had another half hour to go, so she poured herself a glass of wine and followed the men into the living room.

Hughes was stretched out on the couch again, his feet up on the coffee table. Roy seemed more relaxed than before dinner, but he held himself away from Maes. Gracia joined them on the couch this time, placing her husband between them.

“So, colonel, I hear you’re getting a new office.”

“Supposedly.” Roy shrugged. “With the way things are going these days, I’m not about to hold my breath.”

“It better have a view,” Maes went on. “I hate offices without a view.”

“It’s my office,” Roy pointed out.

“Yeah? What, I’m not allowed to visit you anymore? Now that you’re a colonel you’re gonna start forgetting us little people?” Maes grinned.

“Do you do any work at all?” Roy asked, the corners of his lips twitching in a barely contained smile.

“I do more work than you,” Maes shot back. He laughed and stretched, dropping one arm around Gracia’s shoulders and one arm around Roy’s. Gracia saw Roy tense, noted the way his body strained away from the touch. She knew it was because of her. She knew if she wasn’t there he would react differently. He didn’t need to be this way.

“You do not,” Roy responded, and Gracia could tell that he was struggling to keep up the banter.

“Bah, what to you know.” Maes laughed. “Anyway, this is what makes it worth it.”

“Me getting a promotion?” Roy’s eyebrows shot up.

“Not everything’s about you, Roy. This! At home, my two favorite people, a pie in the oven… this is what makes worth it.”

“Waxing philosophical?” Gracia teased. Was this how Maes intended to bring things up?

“It’s that kind of a night.” He grinned and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I really shouldn’t be staying this late,” Roy said, standing. Maes rolled his eyes and Gracia frowned. She stood as well, slipping out from under her husband’s arm.

“Roy, stay.” She brushed her short hair out of her face and smiled. “Please.”

“I shouldn’t. You two clearly would like some time alone. I’m not going to impose on that.”

“Stop being an idiot, Roy.” Maes’ contribution wasn’t really all that helpful. Gracia gave him a softly warning look.

“If we wanted time alone, Roy, we’d tell you. You’re family, you know that.”

“I‘m…”

“Not comfortable?” Gracia smiled warmly. She stifled a laugh at the look of panic that flickered across Roy’s face.

“That isn’t what I meant.” Roy cleared his throat. “I simply…”

“I know, Roy. I know.” Gracia reached out and took his hands, still smiling. “It’s really alright.”

“I…”

“Do I smell something burning?” Maes sat up, sniffing.

“The pie!” Gracia dropped Roy’s hands and ran into the kitchen, flinging open the oven and wincing at the cloud of smoke that poured out of it. “Damn!”

“Ooooh, that’s not good,” Maes said, and Gracia could practically hear him frowning.

“Your oven is on fire. I really should go.”

“It’s not on fire… oh. Well, look at that, it is.”

Gracia waved her hand to try and clear the smoke. So much for the pie. This was turning out to be a bit of a disaster.

“You’re the Flame Alchemist, do something!”

“What am I supposed to do? I don’t have my gloves!”

“Oh, honestly!” Gracia shook her head and grabbed a dish towel. She beat at the flames while the two men argued behind her, putting out the fire and pulling the ruined pie from the oven.

“I’m sorry about that, Roy.” Gracia frowned apologetically.

“It’s quite alright. Now…”

“You’re not going anywhere.” Maes put a hand on Roy’s shoulder. “Look, me and Gracia aren’t that great with words. Well, she is, but I’m not. We want you to stay and we’re not taking no for an answer. This has gone on long enough.”

“What’s gone on long enough?” Roy’s eyes narrowed.

“This,” Gracia said carefully.

“You either don’t come over, or you do and you don’t stay very long and you rush off as soon as you can.” Maes’ eyes were serious behind his glasses.

“I have a busy schedule…” Roy’s eyes darted nervously between Maes and Gracia.

“But not that busy,” Gracia said quietly. “Why don’t we sit down to talk about this?” A kitchen full of smoke and the smell of burnt pie was no atmosphere for this. She led the way into the living room and Maes practically pushed Roy after her.

“I’m busy,” Roy was still protesting as Maes forced him down onto the couch. “Really, why wouldn’t I want to have dinner with you?”

“Do you want the real answer or do you want us to make up a plausible excuse and pretend everything‘s fine?” Maes asked, dryly.

“I gave you the real answer.”

Maes sighed. He rubbed the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses and looked helplessly at Gracia. This was harder than she’d expected. She hadn’t thought it would be like this. She shrugged sadly and shook her head, at a loss for advice.

“Look…” Maes rested one hand on Roy’s knee, hesitantly. “Gracia knows, Roy. I told her a long time ago.”

“Knows what?” The sharp, harsh tone of Roy’s voice made Gracia wince.

“About you two,” she added, from the other end of the couch. She frowned at the look of fear that fell across Roy’s face, as though he were an animal caught in a trap with the hunter approaching.

“You told her,” he repeated, dully.

“Yeah, I told her. She’s my wife, Roy, this stuff comes up. You talk about stuff. You know. Ex-girlfriends and… you.”

“I see.” Roy’s words were clipped. Maes’ hand was still on Roy’s knee, and Gracia covered it with her own.

“It’s alright, Roy. I wouldn’t keep inviting you over if I had some sort of problem with it.”

“It was a long time ago.” Roy was still on the defensive.

“We’re not blind, Roy,” Maes said, quietly. “And we’re not stupid.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Maes looked back at Gracia, pained and seeking help. Gracia rested her head on his shoulder and ran her thumb over the back of his hand.

“Whatever you want to do, Maes.”

“You meant what you said last night?” he asked, quietly. She nodded. She wouldn’t have said it if she didn’t mean it. Roy was family and she loved him dearly. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t thought of it before.

“Alright Roy, here’s the thing.” Maes swallowed hard, his words grave. “You can leave right now and we won’t talk about this ever again, or you can stay. And spend the night. With us.”

“Maes… what exactly are you proposing?” But Roy was looking at Gracia, not Maes.

“We love you, Roy,” she said, smiling to reassure him. “It’s up to you.”

“You can’t honestly be proposing what I think you are,” Roy said, holding himself as though he were about to run. Maes sighed.

“Told you he was a stubborn bastard.” With another roll of his eyes, Maes leaned forward and kissed Roy, and Gracia bit at her lower lip. Knowing it and seeing it were two different things. She wasn’t jealous, that wasn’t it. She was just surprised.

“Your wife!” Roy exclaimed, pulling away.

“Certainly isn’t offended by two handsome men kissing,” Gracia said, leaning across Maes’ chest. She moved her hand off of Maes’ and rested it on Roy’s thigh. Maes turned and kissed her then, and she could taste Roy on his lips.

“It’s up to you, Roy.”

“Excuse me. No. I don’t know. I need a few minutes to sort everything out.”

“Yeah, sorry about springing it on you like this.” Maes chuckled apologetically. “I told you I wasn’t that great with words.”

“I can’t begin to imagine how you were planning on slipping it into conversation.”

“I thought she was going to!” Maes pointed at Gracia. “Don’t pin this on me!”

“You were planning on…?”

“It was my idea, Roy,” Gracia assured him. “You don’t need to be so nervous. Here, sit forward.”

“Hmmm?”

Gracia stood and slid behind Roy, ignoring his squawks of protest.

“Oh, don‘t worry. You’re stiff, I’m just going to rub your shoulders.” It would help loosen him up, and hopefully get him accustomed to her touching him. She kneaded his neck, her knees on either side of his thighs. Maes leaned against Roy, his hand on her leg.

“I’m going to regret this in the morning, aren’t I?” Roy asked, tilting his head back.

“No you won’t.” Maes shifted, turning to lay with his shoulder against the back of the couch. “You worry too damn much, Roy. Just relax and have a little fun for once.”

Gracia ran her thumbs along the back of Roy’s neck, her knuckles pressed firmly against either side of his throat. She felt him relaxing under her fingers. Apparently Maes had taken his fears of regret as an agreement. Her husband stroked her thigh, fingers sliding up under the hem of her skirt even as he kissed Roy’s neck beside her fingers. It was strange, sitting here like this with her husband and the man they thought of as family. Maes’ lips moved to her hand, closing over her knuckles in a wet kiss.

The wine helped. Gracia slid her hands under Roy’s collar, her fingers working deftly over the tight muscles of his shoulders. They were smaller than Maes’, but Roy was leaner and smaller than her husband in general. She realized, suddenly, that she had no idea how these sorts of things worked. She frowned thoughtfully, her palms sliding over the rounds of Roy’s shoulders. She hoped one of them was more well versed in these things than she was. Whenever she’d thought about it she hadn’t exactly thought about the technicalities of it.

It was probably silly to worry about that. Maes was plucking at the buttons of Roy’s shirt, and Gracia leaned forward to follow the opening path of skin with her hands. Roy’s head was leaned back against her shoulder and she hesitated a moment before turning her face to kiss him. It was odd, kissing a man that wasn’t her husband. Of course, it probably shouldn’t be considering what her husband was currently doing. She smiled against Roy’s lips - which were reluctant in returning her kiss. She clasped her hands against Roy’s chest, and Maes was kissing her fingers again. Her dress had ridden up high on her thighs and Roy’s back was warm on her legs. It was slowly dissolving into comfortable, this strange situation they’d found themselves in.

“Think we should take this up to the bedroom?” Maes asked, his chin resting on Gracia’s folded hands.

“Hmmm?” Roy blinked, and Gracia smiled. He’d just begun to kiss her back when he turned his head to glance down at Maes.

“That might be a good idea.” Gracia rested her chin on Roy’s shoulder. “I’m starting to cramp.” Roy’s shirt was open, and Gracia traced small circles on his chest with her finger.

“Oh. Yes. Bedroom.” Roy nodded, and Maes stood to give him room to get up. Gracia unfurled her legs, watching with a small smile as the two men kissed again, lean body pressed against lean body. She stood and smoothed her wrinkled dress.

“Hey come here you,” Maes said over Roy’s shoulder, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. “Don’t want you to feel left out.” He pulled her between them and wrapped his arms around Roy, embracing them both. She flushed, feeling them both prominently against her.

“Are you sure this is alright?” Roy’s voice was soft and questioning now, rather than harsh.

“We’re sure,” Maes said. “Just relax already. Didn’t I say earlier there was nothing better then spending a night with my two favorite people?”

Gracia laughed and kissed first Roy and then her husband, feeling warm and safe between them. Upstairs the bedroom was waiting, and the king sized bed she had shared with Maes for over a year now. And the bed they would share with Roy. However it was that these things worked, she was sure they’d figure it out.