Author's Note: Okay, so I just got really excited posting this because I haven't done this in so long. My last story was posted, when? Last year? A long time ago. It took me a year to finish this book but it's finally done. I decided that I'm sick of making commitments that I can't keep and letting my readers down and I had this great idea for a trilogy but I was afraid that I wouldn't stay commited to it. So I got a beta-reader/great friend to keep me motivated, a deadline to keep me going, and the fact that I knew no one was going to be able to appreciate my hard work until I COMPLETELY finished this book. It's finally here! I have to admit, it feels really wierd to be on this site again. So, sorry that the first chapter is going to be really slow, but trust me... it'll pick up. :)

Chapter 1: Brotherhood

I look to a time when brotherhood needs no publicity, to a time when a brotherhood award would be as ridiculous as an award for getting up in the morning. – Daniel D. Mich

"Nii-san, dinner's ready!" fourteen-year-old Alphonse called from the stove.

Seconds later, the sound of boots walking down the stairs was heard from the kitchen.

"Mmm," Edward hummed. "It smells delicious. Stew?"

Alphonse smiled, "Of course."

"And what would be the occasion?" Edward smiled back, sitting down at the table as his brother poured his dinner in a bowl in front of him.

"Just because," Alphonse replied.

Edward licked his lips and picked up his spoon, instantly diving it into the steaming liquid.

"Not yet, Nii-san, it still needs to cool a bit," Alphonse warned.

Edward pouted. "But it looks so good!" he whined.

Alphonse laughed. "If you're so eager, at least blow on it before you eat it!"

Edward nodded and lifted up a big spoonful of the delicious stew, blowing on it carefully before stuffing it into his mouth. He moaned in satisfaction, digging his spoon in for a second.

"Al, you make the best stew."

Alphonse beamed. It had been about a year and a half since the two brothers had entered a world without alchemy, a place called Germany where they used advanced machines instead. Since then, they had moved into Alfons Heidrich's old house together with Noah and lived there for quite some time. Eventually, Noah left to continue traveling as a gypsy after Edward had given her some very familiar advice to "get on her feet and move forward". Since then it had just been Ed and Al living together, and Alphonse had become quite a talented cook, having to meet the demands of Ed's appetite.

Edward attacked the stew with ferocity similar to that of a starving animal. Alphonse watched his brother with laughter in his eyes, calmly eating his stew. It wasn't long before Edward was finished with his first bowl and demanding seconds. Alphonse was happy to oblige, anything to get his brother to drink milk, after all.

Al was halfway through his first bowl, and Edward was halfway through his second, when he started coughing loudly. Without warning, Alphonse doubled-over and gripped his stomach, longs strings of mucus-filled coughs emanating from the depths of his throat. His stomach started to ache from his lack of breath and his throat began to sting. He only vaguely heard his brother's chair scraping on the tile floor, his name being called, and the pounding footsteps approaching him. He just barely felt hands grip his shoulders and Edward's voice asking him if he was okay. Alphonse nodded, but continued coughing, unable to stop himself, and he felt his brother's hand slapping his back, which surprisingly helped. He coughed up the last of his unexpected fit, tears forming in his eyes. Edward stopped pounding his back and stood up straight.

Once Alphonse had regained his senses, he turned to his brother. Edward definitely looked like he had just recovered from a panic attack, and was just about to have another. To spare his brother's worry, Alphonse smiled his cheeriest, most innocent smile that could melt anyone's heart.

"I'm okay, Nii-san," he assured. "This has been happening to me a lot, lately. I'm used to it."

Perhaps that had been the wrong thing to say. Edward's eyes widened and worry lines were already starting to appear on his young forehead.

"This has been happening a lot?" he asked in disbelief.

Alphonse frowned. "Mm," he nodded. "But it's nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?" Edward asked incredulously. "Haven't I heard that before? Half the people who told me that are now dead! Should I list them for you?"

Alphonse shook his head, "You don't seriously think I'm going to die of a coughing fit, do you?"

Edward narrowed his eyes.

"The worst that could happen is that I have a little cold," the younger brother assured.

Edward closed his eyes and stood up. "Well, I don't want you to strain yourself for a while, okay? You should go to bed after you finish your dinner."

Alphonse whined. "Nii-san, you're so over-protective! I feel fine!"

Edward sat back down. "Well, you may feel fine right now, but the fever hasn't set in yet."

"What fever?"

Ed swallowed more stew. "You said it yourself. You might be sick. I'm not taking any chances."

Alphonse sighed. After he finished his stew, Edward made sure that his little brother was in bed and fast asleep before leaving his side and going to bed himself. He found it rather difficult to sleep, the pressure of Al's possible sickness looming over him, and he tossed and turned for half of the night. When he was finally able to go to sleep, his dreams were plagued with all sorts of visions of horror and death, mostly concerning finding his brother dead in the morning, or him being taken away and killed, because he was too sick to defend himself.

Author's Note: Did I catch anyone's attention? I know I usually do Avatar fanfictions, but bear with me. I decided to tread new waters.