Title: One Week

Author: Silvergray

Pairing: Brief EdxHei, Elricest, other random pairings…

Genre: Horror, Dark, Action, Angst, Romance

Rating: NC-17

Warning: Rated for gore, language, adult themes, and violence

Summary: Post CoS, AU, Al ends up in Germany with Ed and Heiderich but problems are only just starting…

Disclaimer: I own nothing having to do with Fullmetal Alchemist.

Author's Note: This is a story that I've been working on for a few months and is literally taking forever to write. I know that this is still going to take months to finish, but I didn't like it just lingering there in my files. I thought that if I threw it out there, I might be more inclined to work on it more ^_^;


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Chapter One: Day One—Evening

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I used to think when the world ends, will anyone notice? I never thought it would be so loud. Even the silence is loud.

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The taxi was silent; if you don't count the steady rumble of its engine, the crunch and bumps as it drove over cobbled alleyways and the occasional cough from the middle-aged driver. There was no audible indication of the three boys stuffed into the back of the taxi; one completely disheveled, one sickly looking one, and the third in a foreign garb that the taxi driver pretended not to notice, but still stole looks at in the rearview mirror. He could almost see the tension in the air and found himself driving a little faster than he normally would. He got to the boys destination (in record time) and watched as the group got out of his car. The tall, blonde, sickly looking one turned back and gave him the money for the ride. The disheveled boy didn't even throw a glance back and just walked up to the apartment above the flower shop. The foreign one shot a glance back though while the other was paying and for a minute the driver could have sworn they were twins, but not quite. The foreign one was too young.

"Must be brothers or something," he thought while he pulled away, off to find another customer and hopefully, not one quite so odd.

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Ed got to the top of the stairs, opened the door, and stepped into the quiet apartment. He hung up his jacket, noticing the numerous tears and stains in it; some of which were his own blood, some of which wasn't.

I wonder if Gracia can fix it or if I should just toss it. If I could transmute, it's be good as new.

He let out a deep sigh as he walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter as he waited for the two boys to climb up the stairs after him. He could hear them reach the top, just outside in the hallway, the footsteps the only give away. He felt his muscles go out in his legs—from exhaustion or nervousness he couldn't tell—and forced himself to remain standing rather than crumpling on the floor like he wanted to. The door opened and he continued waiting for them to find him in the kitchen.

Sooner then he wanted Alfons walked in, eyeing Ed standing across the room and stopped. Al followed suit, eyes wandering around as he viewed his new surroundings.

I remember the first time I came here after meeting Alfons at work. He said I could live here with him and I remember thinking that this is my new home, get a good look at it. That was so long ago. I wonder if Al sees it same way I did…

The strong silence that followed was painfully awkward, and it was Al who finally broke it.

"Is this where you live Brother?" Al asked as he took in the whole sight of the kitchen. He had a look on his face as if he was remembering some long ago memory. "I think I've dreamt of this place…"

"Yeah Al, I've been living here with Alfons. This is his apartment," Ed said without raising his head. He couldn't bring himself to look Alfons or Al in the face, although he could feel Alfons's eyes digging into him. He suddenly felt very trapped in the corner of the room and panic began to set in.

"Your name is Alphonse too?" Al asked turning to the doppelganger.

"Yeah, but it's spelt different," Ed replied, ignoring the fact that he wasn't the one being asked. Alfons kept his gaze on Ed for a moment longer before pulling away and addressing the younger boy.

"Yes, as Edward kindly put already. My name is Alfons Heiderich," the German boy said, holding out his hand to Al.

"Hello," Al said with a small bow, shaking his hand. "My name is Alphonse Elric. Ed is my brother." He shot a look over to Ed but he was still staring at the floor.

"I've heard of you. Ed almost never shut up about you," he said with a chuckle. "He used to tell me the most outrageous stories of the shenanigans you two would get up to and I never used to believe him. I guess things have changed now though," he said, the smile falling off his face, "and I think we need to straighten a few things out."

"Yeah, I agree," Al said, trying not to stare at Alfons, but not really succeeding.

"Ed , would you mind taking the time to explain some things? Considering how we're both lost here?" Alfons requested and Ed almost winced at the anger laced in his words.

"Uh, yeah. Sure," Ed mumbled.

Time to bite the bullet.

He sat down at the small kitchen table and when he didn't immediately start talking, the two other boys followed suit.

"Al," Ed started, taking a deep breath as he looked at his younger brother. Al had grown up; he wasn't the little 10 year old kid he had seen last and the thought made something in Ed's chest ache, yet he continued on. "When you crossed over here in the suit of armor before, I told you that this is the other side of the gate. Do you remember?"

"Yes," Al replied. He looked like he was hanging off Ed's every last word.

"What's the gate?" Alfons asked as he studied the brothers. His face was set in a stern gaze. "Is that something about alchemy?"

"Yes. When an alchemist performs alchemy on a human they open the gate, but it's always at a price. Equivalent exchange," Ed supplied. When he saw that Alfons still seemed to be following, he kept going. "In my world, I gave up my life to get Al back, and that's how I ended up here. Eckhart opened the gate again and that's how Al got here."

"Alright, so you both came here from this other world. I guess I believe that now," Alfons sighed, rubbing his temple with one hand. Ed recognized this as Alfons's little way of trying to mentally organize. Ed waited patiently for Heiderich to think up his next question but Al beat him to it.

"But Brother, I still don't understand how we…" he paused, sideways glancing at Alfons for a moment, "how we look so alike."

"That was something I discovered here too," Ed started. "When I first got here, I didn't know anyone except Hohenheim and—"

"Wait! Dad was here?" Al shouted.

"Wait. Hohenheim is your dad?" Alfons questioned.

"Yes and yes. Are you guys gonna let me talk or what?"

"Sorry."

"Sorry Brother."

"Yes, Dad was here. Apparently Dante had sent him over here and he was stuck like me. He left about a month ago though, so don't ask me where he is," said the older Elric. "Anyways, like I was saying, I didn't know anyone here except for Hohenheim until he took me to the university. I wanted to learn more about the rockets I was hearing about—I thought they might help me get back home—and that's when I met Alfons here. At first I just thought I was dreaming…" he trailed off, his mind miles and years away.

"Yeah, I remember that day," Alfons began, picking up where Ed left off smoothly. "I saw him staring at me from across the main hall of the north building. He seemed like he was lost, so I went over to ask if he needed anything. I was pretty taken aback when he called me by name, but I still didn't know who he was. We ended up talking and I found out about his interest in rockets—my area of expertise—and long-story short, we became friends. I guess everything makes sense now," the German boy said with a frown on his face. Al opened his mouth to speak, but Ed interrupted.

"And the longer I stayed here, the more and more people I met that looked exactly like the people back home."

"Really? Like who?"

"Well, Gracia owns the flower shop downstairs and Hughes is a police officer. He gives me a hard time more often than not," Ed said with a lazy smile on his face.

"Wow. That must be bizarre." Al sat back in his chair. "Ed, did you ever see—"

"No, Al. I never saw Mom."

"Oh."

"So you're telling me that I'm this world's version of your brother Al?" Alfons asked. His eyes were hard points in his skull, set steadily on Ed's. There was a pregnant pause and it seemed that the two boys were having a silent debate with their gazes alone. Judging by the solemn tone in Ed's voice, he must have lost.

"Yes, you are."

Alfons sighed heavily and then shakily got up from the table. Al saw the almost pained look on his brother's face, and Ed tried to wipe it off. He wondered just how much Al knew or figured out.

"Well, it sure has been a long day. I'm sure you'll forgive me for going to bed early." Alfons crossed the small distance of the kitchen but stopped at the hallway and turned back to Al. "You are free to stay here for as long as you like," he said, the hard edges of his features smoothing out. Ed was shocked to see just how exhausted Alfons really appeared. He couldn't stop the worry that instantly filled him but he was shaken out of his thoughts when the blue-eyed boy turned to him. "Will you please show Al were he'll be sleeping? Noah's room is fine enough. I don't think she'll be coming back again." With that he dropped his head and shuffled down the hall, leaving the two brothers in the darkening kitchen.

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"This is the bathroom. It's kind of small but at least there's always hot water. Well, except for when the sink is also running... learned that the hard way…"

Ed and Al were standing in the cramped doorway that connected the bathroom to the hallway. This was the third spot on the grand tour of the apartment—the kitchen and entranceway being the first two—and Al just stood and watched as Ed rambled on about the kitchen table being wobbly and faulty plumbing.

I can't believe I had forgotten everything. I can't believe I forgot about all that Brother and I had done and seen. How could I have forgotten? How could the gate have been that cruel? How alone Brother must have felt when I told him that time I was here in the armor. Those years were ours… those memories were ours. Like fighting Barry and Number 48 at Lab Five, or when we were there for Elysia's birth or that time when Brother and I—

"Al?"

He was quickly shaken from his thoughts only to realize that Ed was already halfway down the hall, standing there staring with that concerned frown he always put on.

"Huh? Oh, I mean… what?" He could feel a blush rising on his face.

"I asked if you were coming? Your room is down here…" Ed said, trailing off awkwardly instead of acknowledging that Al had obviously not been listening.

He won't look directly at me.

"Yes Brother. Sorry, I'm right behind you."

Al's new bedroom was a small, yet cozy appendage at the end of the hall; tucked away in the back of the apartment. It wasn't really decorated except for a small vase of flowers that Al guessed came from downstairs. The walls were windowless but Al didn't really mind; at least there was a bed. He walked over and placed a hand on the quilt spread over it. It was softer than the bed he had been sleeping on at Winry's.

"Sorry there isn't much, but, well… you know…" Ed fumbled, like it was his job to apologize. Al turned around and saw him standing at the mouth of the room.

He's trying not to stand close to me.

"It's alright. I don't see anything wrong with it," Al commented, trying to ease the tension that he desperately didn't want to be there. "So where do you…"

"Oh, I uh," Ed said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck with his flesh hand, staring at the floor. "I sleep in the next room over. It's mine and Alfons's… well I guess I should let you go to sleep. I'm sure you're tired."

He started to turn around and reached to close the door but Al stopped him.

"Brother?"

Look at me.

Ed didn't move at first but then slowly turned around and looked into Al's eyes. "Yes."

What is that in his face? It looks like misery. Misery… and shame.

"I missed you Ed."

"I… I missed you too Al. Every second."

Al's heart twanged with pain at those words but he knew he still had more to say.

"You didn't want me to come with you, did you?" Ed kept the strong eye contact with Al; that never-back-down attitude that so clearly defined Ed, but then he dropped his gaze and Al knew that the person standing before him was a stranger. And that hurt more than anything else.

"I don't know what I want, Al."

The door closed before the tears could leave Al's eyes and even though his whole being was exhausted, he had the hardest time falling asleep. The muffled argument in the room next door prevented him from drifting away, and although he couldn't hear the words, he knew he was somewhere he didn't belong. The harsh fact was that Ed wasn't his anymore and when he did manage to slip into sleep it was restless and filled with sour dreams.