Authoresses Notes: This takes place after the entire series is over. Just a warning. It may contain some spoilers. And ...right about now I'm just going to spoil the entire thing for you. So don't read the next few sentences if you don't want anything to be spoiled.

SPOILER BELOW!

scroll if you want to skip it

Al ends up sacrificing himself to that he can bring back Ed's arm and leg. Ed had been stabbed through the chest by Envy. Thus he was "dead". Then Ed wakes up and realizes what Al's done and so he then sacrifices himself, his entire body, to bring Al back, body and all. Al comes back, but he doesn't remember the past four years when they're wandering around doing all this stuff and Ed's in the military. So Ed has passed through the Gate and is now in, surprise, surprise, our world. Germany to be exact. Anyway, Ed joins the space program, hoping that it will bring him back to his world. Meanwhile, Al goes to study alchemy under Izumi again.

END SPOILER

And thus you leave the series. There is a movie that follows that comes out in Japan sometime in late spring of 2005. So. Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. None. Absolutely none. Anyway. On to the story!

One Moment in Time

Chapter One

Shinkono Kokoro

"Crap!" Scrambling after a glance at the clock, Ed jumped up, grabbing his jacket and briefcase, and rushing down the stairs to the street below. It was just about twenty after six, and Ed had been supposed to meet Al for dinner. He wasn't the same Al, of course, but he sure looked like him, and he was the closed thing he had to home, other than the metal arm and leg that still plagued him. And biomechanics were nothing to get excited about over here. Whispering another silent thanks to Winry for her expertise, Ed nearly tripped down the final flight of stairs and burst out the front door. Glancing in both directions, Ed headed right in what he hoped would be the shorter way to the restaurant. He growled, cursing to himself for not paying more attention to the time. It had happened too many times this week.

Ed glanced at the stoplight. Red. Good. There weren't many cars either. Also good. He ran into the road, briefcase in his arms. Dinner ran through his mind, thinking about the menu of his and Al's favourite restaurant. Squealing tires and shouting people interrupted his happy thoughts of food. "What?"

Pausing, Ed looked over and froze. Like a deer, he thought ironically. Clutching his briefcase to his chest, Ed stared in horror at the car advancing on him. His hands moved automatically to clap together. They hit the briefcase. Nothing happened. A violent string of curses ran through his head as he shook himself, lifting a heavy foot, only a little too late as he felt the car collide jarringly, the impact sending him flying. His briefcase left his arms, opening to allow the papers and spatters of blood to flutter through the air like so many feathers. No. Ed's mind screamed slowly. No! Dinner…

His eyes closed, hand grasping for something he couldn't quite reach.

Ed groaned, mind vaguely registering pain and fuzziness before something finally connected. Alive. He was alive! He forced his eyes open, immediately regretting it, shutting them again against the bright light. He groaned again against the bright sun and pushed himself to his knees. Once again opening his eyes, he jumped back, collapsing to the ground again, heaving a sigh. He eyed the tail-wagging dog sitting in front of him suspiciously.

The dog licked his face and barked.

Ed looked again at the dog. It was kind of familiar. Black. With white on its paws and—Wait. Black. Hayate! It was Hayate! "Hayate!"

The dog gave a happy bark.

Gaping, Ed looked around quickly. Sun. No snow. No street. No stoplight. No briefcase, car, or people. And furthermore… No blood. Ed shoved himself rudely to his feet. "Hello! Is someone there!"

There was silence.

He examined his surroundings more closely. There was a woodpile, a clothesline with clothes on it, a little garden, and flowers. Behind him was a house. Swallowing, Ed walked up to the back door and raised a hand to knock. His hand, however, had other ideas. It hovered over the door and refused to get any closer. Swallowing again, Ed straightened himself, prepared to take what that dog might mean, and knocked forcefully. "Hello! Excuse me! I'm sorry to intrude! Hello?" He listened and heard the footsteps approaching the door. The person was undoing the lock. Opening the door. A head peeked out. Ed's jaw dropped. The face inside the doorway mirrored his own before swiftly regaining his composure.

"Well. Please come in. Sit. Tea?"

Ed drifted through the door, stunned, taking his shoes off, staring like a fool.

"Roy! Roy, who's there?" a female voice called, a blond-haired woman hurrying into the kitchen, a child on her hip. "Oh my God…" Her hand flew to her mouth, words dying on her lips, the child sliding to the floor.

Roy smiled at her, tiredly scratching his stubbly cheeks. "'Morning, Riza. It seems we have a guest."

Riza Hawkeye Mustang's hand hovered at her child's, a little girl's, shoulder. She walked over to Ed, placing her hands on his shoulders as if to make sure he wasn't a ghost. "Edward…"

Ed looked to Roy. "You guys are… Married?" He swallowed. How long has it been? What have I missed out on?

Roy nodded. "You've gotten taller."

His face relaxing into an easy grin, Ed laughed with relief. He looked at Riza and gave her a hug and then turned to Roy, offering a hand which Roy accepted and shook. "Yup. I'm nearly as tall as you." Turning at a tug on his coat, Ed looked down at the girl sucking on her hand. Smiling, he crouched down in front of her, Riza moving to stand against her husband. "Hey there. What's your name?"

She looked at him with wide eyes. "Uncle Ed?"

"…" Ed's face melted as he growled to himself. "I'm not that old…"

Roy stapped behind her, placing a hand on her head. "Ed, I'd like you to meet my daughter. Mae."

He looked up in surprise. "Mae…" He returned Roy's faintly sad smile. "After him, right?" He stood again.

Roy nodded. "Riza, would you get some tea please? Have you eaten, Ed?"

Ed laughed somewhat hollowly. "No, I was... going for dinner when I... Well. I got hit by a car." He laughed again.

"Hit by a car!" Riza glanced at him sharply as she set the tea on the table.

"Yeah..." Ed scratched his head. "I was going for dinner too... And then I woke up here. And it was morning." He sat, mind still tyring to figure out what was going on. "Roy... Roy. Where's Al? Where's my brother?"

"He's fine. Don't worry. His last letter I recieved said that he was practicing alchemy again and is training under Izumi. He's in good hands and good health." He gave Ed a smile and sipped his tea.

Sitting back in his chair with a sigh of relief, Ed nodded. "Good. Thank you, Roy. And Riza." He gazed around the kitchen as the silence was uncomfortably born. It was a nice kitchen. Homey. Warm. They'd gotten on well. They were happy. Ed could tell, as he smiled at the wall and then cleared his throat, the life of the uncomfortable silence brief. "So how is everyone else? Winry? Lieutenant Ross? Havoc, Fury, and Armstrong?"

Roy looked at him. He was softer now, Ed noticed. He was the same Mustang, but more mature, the rough edges smoothed away by the file of time. Ed himself wasn't nearly so impulsive either. Nearly, he thought, allowing himself an inward grin. It was probably being a father that did it to Roy. It made his smile kinder and more gentle. Like the one he was wearing now. "They're all fine, Ed. Most are still in the military. Escept of course, for Winry, since she was never in the military in the first place."

Ed laughed. "Of course. I could te--" He blinked. "Wait. You mean... You retired?"

Roy glared at him. "No, shorty, I quit. I'm too young to retire!"

Ed glared back and then laughed again. "And what about your dream to become Fuhrer? What happened to that?"

"Oh. I gave it up," Roy said off-handedly.

"Hmph. Only because he wants to be President," Riza said, sitting down at the table.

"Oh really?" Ed grinned at him, leaning on an elbow.

Straightening himself imperiously, Roy stared at Ed. "Of course not. It's just that I think I could do a better job. That's all."

"'That's all', he says. Sure, you do." Ed laced his fingers behind his head. His grin faded as he looked up at the ceiling. "Roy... I don't know what I'm doing here..."

"Neither do we, Ed, but you're here, and not to sound cliché, but that's all that really matters, isn't it?" Riza said kindly.

Ed looked at her a moment before a smile crept across his lips. "Yeah. Of course."

Roy stood suddenly, drawing a look of surprise from the two. "Now. Get out of my house."

"What!" Ed stared at him.

After a momen of silence, Roy suddenly smiled at Ed. "Go find your brother."

Ed stood as well and grinned. "You bet!" Taking Roy's offered hand, he shook it and then hugged Riza and walked to the door, throwing them a cocky salute. "I'll be back."

Roy and Riza nodded.

"I'll be seein' you. Bye! Bye Mae!" He waved to the little girl and walked out the door into the light of the morning that promised something new.