Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. Duhr.
Chapter 1 is angsty. But the rest of the fic has only bits of angst amongst the humor! Enjoy. :
"I swear, Al, if I could trade places with you.. I'd do it in a heartbeat."
Ed had said those words to Al more than once, each time with an incurable ache in his heart. He knew that Al minded Ed's condition more than his own, and this only made Ed feel infinitely worse.
"Brother?" Al's voice shakes Ed from his thoughts. He looks up to the familiar, looming suit of armor. "You should be inside. It is your birthday, after all."
Ed just smiles sadly. "Yeah, you're right, Al. Sorry. I'll join you in a minute." He waves Al off gently, watching the armor clunk-clunk through the doorway. {I'd love to switch with you.} Standing, Ed heads inside the building, putting on a smile for those inside. He weaves around, past Mustang and his crew, Armstrong, a few friends; even Winry, who had traveled to Central for his birthday. He heads to the main table, where a few presents are sat to the side. The cake has yet to be brought out. Looking around at the cheesy decorations, Ed can't help but laugh. It's as though he were a kid again. Why would they have a party for him, anyway? He's not the partying type. He likes to spend his time alone in a library, in a field, or just.. well, he's alone. People usually either annoy him or inspire him. Though there's a good balance of those qualities in this room, Ed would, honestly, rather be alone in a library. Or a field. Anywhere that he can wallow in his thoughts until he's inspired to do something about them, get up and take action. Rather than exist in meaningless halfhearted celebration over another year that he's been on the planet. Another year that he's failed to fix himself and his brother. Another year Al has to be stuck, bodiless, inside a cold, senseless metal shell.
Ed is shaken from his thoughts when the room suddenly goes dark, but sees a round cake aflame with candles on them. He stares as it's brought out by Gracia, little Elysia following excitedly behind. Overshadowing Ed's thought of how much Gracia misses Maes is the smile upon her face. Just like himself, she has learned to keep her loved one's spirit alive in her heart.
The birthday song passes by in a surreal blur, and then he feels someone prodding him. Winry.
"Go on, Ed! Make a wish and blow out the candles!" At Ed's sheepish look, she continues. "Come on, just like when we were kids."
Ed faces the candle flames, and feels his heart ache. When they were kids. When all was right and pure.. their mother was there, and Al was fine. Al. As he takes a deep breath and blows the candles out, the only thing on his mind, the only wish he has, is for Al to be human again. And just before the last flame goes out, the other party-goers catch tears gently streaming down Ed's cheeks.