I don't know how long this story is going to be, and as far as fan fiction chapters go, this one might be a bit long. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading!

Chapter 1

Edward knocked lightly on the door. In the back of his mind, he hoped that there would be no answer. He wanted to visit, but he knew that the situation would do nothing for the feelings of inadequacy he had been experiencing as of late. He knew it wasn't their fault, but every day, he had to force himself to be happy.

Roy opened the door, and smiled. Edward was surprised that it wasn't a maid or butler who answered. "Hey there, it's been a while," he said. "Come on in. Riza went to get more sugar, and your brother isn't here yet."

Edward gave a mental sigh of relief. Maybe this visit wouldn't be as bad as he though it would be. He stepped into the Mustangs' pristine home. He had never imagined it to be as clean and as beautiful as it was. Perhaps it was all Riza's doing. Maybe Roy wanted only the best for her.

Six years prior, Edward had been stripped of the title "state alchemist". It was to be expected; if he could no longer perform alchemy, he wasn't much use. Breda and Havoc suggested that he enlist as an officer, explaining that there was no shame in being an ordinary soldier, and went further to say that, without alchemy, Edward was still a perfectly capable young man. He was just as strong and healthy, if not more so, than others who had enlisted. While Edward never looked down upon non-alchemists, he politely declined. He wished desperately that he could work alongside his old companions once again, without the pressure of having to restore his brother's body. It simply could not be, however. He couldn't bear the reminder of the person he used to be.

In spite of him no longer being an alchemist, the friends he had accumulated in the military never abandoned him, and were perhaps the most sensitive to his predicament. They knew firsthand what alchemy was to him, and what it had done to and for him. They couldn't imagine what it was like to suddenly have what had been his whole life suddenly taken from him.

Roy was in a constant state of worry for Edward. The young man certainly wore a mask well enough, but Roy knew him better. So, he went out of his way to reach out to him. He was the one who had suggested that Edward come to visit.

Edward followed Roy into the living room, which was bright with sunlight that poured in from a single window that covered almost the entirety of the wall into which it was built. In the center of the room were two leather sofas that faced each other, with a small table in between them.

Roy sat down, and gestured for Edward to do the same. "What have you been up to?" he asked. "It's not quite the same when I don't have you harassing me every day."

Edward laughed as he sat across from Roy. "Believe me, if I could bother you the way I used to, I would be more than happy to," he answered. "Life as a doctor isn't quite like the life of a state alchemist."

"Yeah, I can see that, but I hear you're the best doctor in all of Amestris. I can't say I'm surprised; you're a smart kid. Always were."

"That's quite the compliment, coming from the Fuhrer." Ed smirked.

Roy rolled his eyes. "How's that girl you told me about? I know it was a while ago, but I thought maybe you two were still seeing each other."

"I guess you could say that. She's hard to read. I can never tell if she hates me or if she's in love with me."

"You should really just tell me who she is. I can't imagine who you'd fall for."

"I'll tell you after she says 'yes' to me tonight."

Roy's eyes widened. "You're gonna propose to this girl?"

"Yeah. Wish me luck!"

Roy laughed. "Sure, but I doubt you'll need it."

"Another thing: do me a favor and keep this between the two of us. Man to man?"

"Yeah, alright."

The front door opened, and footsteps echoed throughout the house. At first, Edward thought that it was only Riza, but was soon able to pick up on the sound of steps from an extra person. He could only guess who it was.

Riza was as lovely as ever, and seemed to have had a glow about her ever since she and Roy had been married. She walked, with a cheerful stride, into the living room, with a tall young man behind her.

Alphonse looked entirely different from when his body was first restored. He had overcome his muscular atrophy, and was able to bulk himself up to a healthy and somewhat intimidating size. He had even grown taller. His powder blue shirt was stretched snugly over his chest and bulging arms; his jeans fit similarly around his thighs.

"Look who I found while I was shopping," Riza said as she and Alphonse entered the room.

Alphonse's bright smile widened as he came forward to trap Edward in a warm embrace. Edward tried his best to return the love. He had missed his brother; it had been at least two months since he had seen him. Being such a talented doctor, he was constantly swamped with patients, and meanwhile, Al was still on his journey to learn more about alkahestry and to further his already deep knowledge of alchemy. The two siblings rarely had time to see each other, not that Edward particularly wanted to see Alphonse.

Edward silently cursed himself as his brother released him. He couldn't believe that he felt so negatively towards him. He had spent so many years striving to fix what he had done, because he loved Alphonse with all of his heart. Why, then, did he also hate him the way that he did?

"I really missed you, brother," Alphonse said. "It feels like it's been forever." He turned to face Roy, his right hand extended. "Fuhrer Mustang, it's always a pleasure to see you, sir."

Roy laughed as he grasped Al's hand in a firm handshake. "Don't address me so formally," Roy insisted. "It's too strange."

"Sure, Roy," Al replied. "How have you been?" he asked as he sat down next to Edward.

"Things have been pretty different, but I like to think these changes have been for the better." Roy winked at Riza, whose face turned crimson. "I try to be the best leader I can be, but I wouldn't be much without all of my friends, you and Edward included."

Al nodded. "I couldn't imagine a better Fuhrer. What about you, brother?" He turned to face Edward, who smiled nervously back at him.

"I'm great," Ed smiled. "Thanks for asking."

"That's all?" Al laughed. "Come on, there must be more than that. I've heard so many amazing things about you. I believe it when people tell me you're the best doctor this country has to offer. Maybe it's better that you're not an alchemist anymore. I think the medical field is where you were meant to be all along. You're a natural."

Ed winced. He never really wanted to be a doctor. He had an interest in all sciences, but alchemy was where his heart was. Nothing could ever compare to it. Medicine paled in comparison. While it brought him so much joy to be able to help people with their injuries and illnesses, he always felt that he had been more useful to the world as an alchemist. Nothing could persuade him otherwise. With alchemy, he could bend matter to his will. He felt he had power. Now, he was as ordinary as he could be. There was nothing special about being a doctor. Anyone could become a doctor with enough hard work. Some people were just born to be alchemists.

"I suppose," Ed answered. "People are really too kind. Why don't you tell us what you've been doing?"

"You won't believe what it's been like!" Al said, seeming almost too excited to speak of his own adventures. "Alkahestry is an incredible science! It's not like anything I've ever studied before. It could really change what we know about medicine and how people are treated!"

Edward felt a burning deep within his heart. Was Alphonse planning on taking away his ability to be a doctor as well? He had finally found something to replace alchemy in his life. He didn't need his brother to ruin it.

"That's really great, Al," Edward said. "I'm sure May is really proud of you."

Al smiled sheepishly. "Well, you see, May and I had a bit of a falling out."

"What do you mean?"

"I just didn't feel about her the way she did about me. She was willing to continue to teach me more about alkahestry, but it just felt too weird. In addition to that, I just ended up really liking this other girl."

Roy grinned. "Alright, if Ed won't tell me about his girl, you definitely have to tell me about yours."

"Sorry, but she asked me to keep it between the two of us for a while longer."

Roy groaned in frustration. "You two are too alike."

The remainder of the evening continued in a similar fashion, and Edward spoke less and less, unable to find the energy to participate in conversations that consisted mostly of praising Alphonse for his strength in alchemy. Edward tried his hardest to remind himself of the way he felt when he saw Al in his human body again for the first time. It was like magic, and at the time, he was glad to have given up on alchemy for the sake of the person he cared for the most.

However, he was unable to bear being in the presence of his brother's light, so he politely excused himself, much to Roy's dismay. The man followed him to the door, and walked him outside, closing the door gently behind them.

"Ed," he said softly. "You don't have to go."

"I know I don't," Edward replied. "But I feel like I do, and I hate that I feel this way."

Roy put his arm around Ed's shoulders as he walked him towards the front gate. It was dark now. The streets were almost empty.

"I don't understand it, Roy," Edward said lifelessly. "I love Al so much. I'd be willing to walk through flames to protect him, but I just can't stand seeing him now, as amazing as he has become. The more he improves his abilities, the worse I feel."

"Stop comparing yourself with him. That's your problem. You're not measuring your strengths in terms of how talented you are in medicine, you're measuring yourself strictly against what Al can do with alchemy. That kind of thinking will get you nowhere. Ed, you know, deep down, that you're the greatest damn doctor there is. Stop beating yourself down with these thoughts."

Edward sighed. "I guess you're right. I just hope things will get better."

"Learn to appreciate yourself the way you are, and they will."