A/N: So this is my first 3rd October after discovering the amazing fandom that is Fullmetal Alchemist. So I've decided to start this - a series of memories of the Elric brothers' lives and the brotherly love between them - because that is the central diving force of the whole story. I plan to do one every year on this day, starting today: 3rd Oct 2016. I hope you enjoy commemorating this day.

"It has babies." Edward marvelled.

Alphonse nodded in agreement "I guess she is their mother."

They both watched with a mixture of wonder and sadness from where they were crouching on the forest floor.

It had been a while but such little things were always sure of reminding the two of what they would rather forget. They were but young children who couldn't accept what had happened. They longed for what they had lost...and it seemed that every other thing reminded them of it, especially when stranded on an uninhabited island for what seemed like no reason at all. They couldn't accept that she was gone. Their dear, sweet mother.

Both of them grimaced at the sight of the fox and her feeding cubs, which suffice to say made them more than willing to leave, for the moment, their hunger waiting for more reasons than one.

"Let's just eat fish." Edward said, leading with purposeful yet somehow lacking marches back to the beach.

Alphonse sighed.

"Wait Brother."

"Huh? What is Al?" Edward mumbled tiredly, his attention focused solely elsewhere.

Alphonse shook his head at his brother, with a hint of fond smile on his face. Why must you do this brother, he thought, put all the weight on your shoulders? I'm here. I'll always be here - we'll do this together. He stopped Edward, ignoring the questioning look, and led him by hand to a fallen log which he then proceeded to push him down onto.

Edward looked at his little brother's eyes with fierce intensity as Alphonse looked at him with equal depth. Before Edward could say anything, Alphonse gently touched his fingers to Edward's lips, effectively silencing him. They stared at each other solemnly some more, both trying to work out the innermost working of the other's mind.

Edward's eyes widened slightly as Alphonse ripped a large piece of his shirt off and knelt at his brother's side, bandaging the still bleeding fox bite with tender and caring hands.

Edward's gaze didn't stray from his brother's face the whole time. When Alphonse was finished with his task, he looked at his brother once more, straightening and extending his hand to him with his signature tilt of the head. Edward closed his eyes, and he gave a knowing shrug, a sheepish smile on his face. I'm sorry, Al, he thought, you are always here. And as long as we're together we'll get through anything.

They walked back to the beach hand in hand. And their silence spoke a thousand words.

"Brother! I'm back" Alphonse called as he entered their apartment in Munich. Not hearing a response, he closed the door and hung his brother's coat up (he had borrowed it to protect himself from the harsh cold of his first German winter which rivalled that of the Briggs mountains) and made his way inside with a slight frown. He wasn't oblivious - he knew which day it was.

Alphonse paused at the open doorframe of their room. Edward was sitting on his bed with his old state alchemist pocket watch lying open in the palm of his automail hand; his flesh hand's fingers trailed over the engravings which remained sharp even after enduring many years of rough life.

It was one of the few things that they had left of their home world. Alphonse had carried it with him when he travelled to remind him of his big brother, just like the Flamel embossed red coat. So when he had presented the watch to him after they closed the portal to Amestris, Edward had been overjoyed.

"Brother?" He tried again with worry colouring his voice, but Edward was too lost in his own thoughts to notice him.

Alphonse's face softened, and he entered the room, siting down next to Edward, who gave a start before realising that it was just his brother. A hand made its way across their laps to rest compassionately on flesh and metal. They looked into each other's orbs, as opposite as the sun and moon, yet burning with the same intensity.

And their silence spoke a thousand words because their hearts unite as one.