Edward Elric: 24 years of age. Married to Winry Rockbell. Colonel rank.

Alphonse Elric: 23 Years of age. Married to Princess Mei of Xing. Colonel rank.

Golden eyes opened to rubble and dust. They darted from left to right, blood trailing beside them. They widened in fear. "Where's Al?" The thought bounced around behind them.

They shifted with his body as he stood. They scanned the room and spotted red. "Al…" He ran to his brother, lying in his own blood. Tears blurred the golden eyes and he could not see his pale brother.

"No," His nails dug into his palm as he balled his fists. "No!" He dropped to his knees and squeezed his eyes shut. He wiped away the salty streaks and tried to focus his gaze.

"Brother…" The golden eyes opened and stared into auburn ones.

"I'm right here, Al." He took his brother's hand into his own. Tears continued to spill over and all he could see was blobs. But the most prominent was the red one under his knees.

"Looks like it's too late for me." He laughed dryly. His voice was strained. And his eyes were looking at nothing in particular, the thousand mile stare.

"No, Al. Don't talk like that!" The golden eyes shut again. "We'll get you out of here and you'll get better. I promise."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep." Each word was barely audible.

"Al, don't give up on me now! We've been through too much to let it all go now!" He choked between sobs. "I-I can't live without you."

"Of course you can, brother. You have Winry. And your baby." He smiled then but it didn't quite reach his eyes. A small trickle formed at the corner.

"My… My baby?" He gasped. His eyes opened and he saw his brother smiling gently. Probably his last smile.

"Winry phoned yesterday. She's pregnant. I meant to tell you yesterday, but we were called to battle. Edward, I have to go now." More tears formed, his voice still a whisper.

"What? No, Al! You can't go!" His teeth clenched breath uneven.

"I have to. I can feel it, I'm slipping away." He said.

"Al, please! Just stay a little longer! We can get help, you can get better." But in his heart, he knew. He knew it was too late. He rested his head on his brother's chest, sobbing.

"I have to, brother. It's my time to leave. I love you."

He listened as his breathing slowed, then stopped. "No! Al, don't go! Come back… Come back dammit!" He cried over his brother. "You can't leave, I need you. Come back!" He gripped the fabric of the shirt in his hands. His were eyes red, his nose stuffy, and his throat tight with sorrow. He couldn't help his brother now. He was gone. He didn't have alchemy to bring him back, and even if he did, he wouldn't be so selfish as to put him through that hell again.

The golden eyes looked to their brother for the last time. "I love you too, Al"