To The Stars

SUMMARY: Edward has a story to tell his brother. A story of the time he was alone on the other side of the gate. A story of learning to belong in a world of dreams and tragedies.

WARNINGS: Homosexuality, character death, violence, swearing, OC

DISCLAIMER: I do not have the pleasure of owning Full Metal Alchemist. If I did, I would not be writing fanfiction about it. Please forgive me if this causes distress, but I will not be repeating the disclaimer after this chapter.

PAIRINGS: Edward/ Heidrich.

AUTHORS RAMBLE: The pairing has been set, and you have been told, so please do not comment to me about it. This is a fanfiction you see, and I am a fan. I write for simple enjoyment, and I am not getting paid (its illegal anyways.) The point is, please do not comment simply to say how much you hate the pairing, as that is what this fic is based on.

This is a romance, after all. It is of how Edward came to know Alfonse Heidrech, and then, eventually, how he came to love him. And all the little things in between.

I love constructive criticism above all. Please, reviews that are nice and long, but also contain some helpful hints are appreciated. Rants are fun to read to - rant all you want!

This is co-authored and edited by: Sora-chigau (please visit her!)

-x-

Prologue

It was a beautiful, clear night in the outskirts of Munich. The star light shone down on the people of the world, blinking words eons away. They almost seemed to tease the inhabitants of earth with their shining glory, like a cat who teased a mouse before it pounced and extinguished the life of the small rodent. To the small young man who lay against the dewy grass of the hillside, they were infuriatingly annoying. He screwed up his face in an annoyed gesture and tossed his arm over his eyes, as if he couldn't take the sight of such cheerful guardians any longer.

The young man's scowl deepened and he uttered a string of profanity under his breath. He let his arm drop back against the grass once again, digging his fingers through the earth as though anchoring himself against something that only he could see. "Dammit," He uttered through clenched teeth. "Damn it Al! I can't reach the stars and beyond now." Edward Elric let a tremor pass through his body, through the aching hole in his chest that caused his distress.

His golden gaze shot toward the stars as he glared up at the twinkling beacons of light. How long? How long had Alfonse wanted to go to those stars...only to be shot down at the last minute? Right when his dream seemed like it would become a reality? What was he supposed to do now? How could he go forward in this world any longer? Without Alfonse Heidrich? Without those bright blue eyes sparkling clearer than the stars on a clear night like tonight?

He closed his eyes, weary of watching the stars that meant so much to his deceased friend. No, more than a friend. His deceased partner, the one whom he was willing to give everything to, Laws of Equivalent Exchange or no. He shivered, even though it was unusually warm for such a clear night. The numbness spread slowly from the center of his chest and spread slowly. Ever since the funeral, he had felt it growing in strength.

Was this what it was like to lose the person most precious to you? Did Gracia feel this after the death of Hughes what seemed like ages ago? Why was it so hard to wake up alone, after being together? He gave a shuddering breath. He tilted his head against the grass, allowing his bangs to fall over his eyes.

Keep going forward. You've got legs, stand up and use them.

Edward shuddered in remembrance. It was so hard to remember the past now. Everything hurt. He just wanted to let it all stop. What was life worth without Alfonse by his side?

Alfonse...Al...Alphonse!

He let his mouth set in a cynical smile. Of course. His brother Al. He had to stay with Al, because without his brother, Edward would be nothing. He'd get no where in life without him. The positive ray of light shining through the cloudiness of his soul. An untempered optimistic attitude was one of the endearing characteristics that made his brother so invaluable to him.

But hell, they were both so similar!

They were both Al, had the same hairstyle, same fashion sense, and their eye color was damn near indistinguishable. If Al hadn't been returned to his ten year old body, Ed might never have been able to look at his brother the same way again.

"Come on Ed, you know you don't believe that!" Alfonse's voice echoed in his mind, the soft, gentle murmur of the familiar voice caressed Ed's mind in a way that he could only remember and long for. Until the end.

"I may not live much longer...but I'll still be here."

Edward flinched inwardly at the words. The words that plagued him every waking moment of his life. No matter what he did, no matter how he tried to forget...

"Just don't forget me."

Edward sat up with a start, glaring at the stars with renewed fury. "I can't alright?! I wont forget you dammit!" He shouted at the silent sky. In his fury he had leapt to his feet and an accusing finger was pointed at the sky. The angry syllables floated over the hill harmlessly, and his only response was the slight rustling of leaves in the breeze.

He plopped back onto the hill, letting his arms fall to the grass limply as he slumped against the ground, past the point of exhaustion.

"Ed!" Alphonse's youthful voice carried a hint of exasperation as it wafted over the hill, closely followed by the slightly taller figure of his younger brother. Al's pale grey eyes lit up upon seeing the shadowed form of his brother, and he grinned slightly. "There you are brother! I've been looking all over for you!" He plopped himself down next to his brother with a dazzling smile that made the older Elric's breath catch in his throat.

They were so similar, and yet they were so different. Ed's distress grew at this thought, and his hand unconsciously ripped at the grass around him in agitation.

Al noticed the change in his brother's behavior with a wave of brotherly concern. They were finally together, and yet, all his brother seemed to want to do was run away. The younger Elric was a master at reading the emotions of others, having nothing else to do for four years but study his brother's emotional crisis while he was stuck in a tin can.

"Ed, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." It didn't faze him. It was a conditioned response that his brother always gave. An automatic defense system which shielded the elder Elric from unwanted questions. Al quirked an eyebrow and waved the comment aside.

"No really brother. Did I do something wrong? Is that why your avoiding me?"

Ed's eyes widened, "What?" He whipped his head around to face his younger brother in surprise. "No! Al, you didn't do anything!"

"Then what is on your mind brother?" Al sighed at the annoyed look on his older brothers face and lowered his back to the ground, cushioning his head in his arms. He looked at the stars with a half smile on his face. "The stars are beautiful tonight brother."

Ed flinched, and his golden eyes searched the ground a moment longer in distress before he heaved a golden sigh and followed his brother to the ground. "Al..." His gaze wandered over the stars, and the hole in his chest stabbed at him with inner pain. He shook his bangs out of his eyes and set his mouth in a grim line. "I'm going to tell you a story."

"Brother?" Al's uncertain voice lilted through his ears.

"It's all right Al," Edward said, soft reassurance floating through his voice.

He swallowed the bile that rose in his throat, two full years of time with Alfonse Heidrich flashing through his eyes. He turned to his brother, a soft smile on his cheeks. "Al, the story I'm going to tell you is like one of Shakespeare's tragedies. But its also some of the best two years I ever had."

Alphonse Elric returned his brother's smile, shoving all the reassurance he could into it. "Okay brother. I'm listening."

"To the stars..."

"And beyond!"

Edward Elric's smile grew and he opened his mouth to begin his tale.

TBC...

Thank you for reading. Comments? Suggestions? I'm all ears! XD