Hello! Welcome to this new story.

Rating: T, for language and some dark themes, including mentions of past child abuse and gory accidents (Not too bad, if you can watch FMA you can read this).

This fic is set in an AU version of Amestris. There is alchemy and automail but no souls bonded to armour or chimera's.

Enjoy.

Of Family, Friendship and Other Things

Chapter One: First Day

Roy Mustang let out a litany of swear words as he rubbed his head where he'd just bashed it on the bunk above him. Stupid nightmares, making him bolt upright when he was on the bottom bunk. Stupid bunk bed for that matter, it hadn't been an issue when it had first become his bed five years ago but he'd had a growth spurt since then, though on reflection that wasn't the bed's fault.

Roy's inner grumblings were disturbed as a pillow hit him with unerring accuracy in the face. Grabbing the offending item, Roy, with equally unerring accuracy, hit the occupant of the bed above, who had thrown the pillow in the first place, in the face.

"Too damn early bastard," was the mumbled, sleepy reply. Roy counted to ten and climbed out of bed, as expected the boy above him was already asleep. A quick glance at the clock told Roy it was half an hour until he had to be up anyway. Shrugging he decided he'd help his roommate get up quicker but shoving his alarm clock between the pillow and the bars that stopped him rolling out of bed. Then taking his own clock Roy placed in on top of the wardrobe where he knew the other could not reach. Gathering up clothes and a T-shirt Roy headed to the shower.

Edward slammed Roy's now broken alarm clock on the breakfast table beside him.

"Something happened to your clock, don't know what," he said nonchalantly. Roy merely shrugged and pulled a pen.

"Roy Mustang you better not be about to draw on the table cloth or so help me I will skin you alive," Izumi Curtis yelled. Roy shot her his best innocent look and snagged a piece of paper his bag, which lay nearby. Ed was smiling smugly and didn't manage to drop it before Izumi looked at him. "And you can stop breaking other people's property," she said to him with a stern glare. She turned back to watch Roy pen a quick array on to the paper, shoving the clock into the circle he activated the array and looked please when his alarm clock sat there ticking pleasantly.

"Wouldn't have needed a pen," Ed muttered causing Roy to glare at him. Izumi gave a long suffering sigh.

Izumi Curtis and her husband Sig had just come to terms with their inability to have children when they found the lost and injured child by the railway tracks. When his parents couldn't be located and all the information that could be retrieved from the boy was that his name was Edward they had eagerly taken the boy in. Though they had never pretended to be Edward's parents he truly felt like their son.

When Edward was eleven years old his social worker told Izumi about a boy of twelve who had been taken away from abusive and drunk parents. The boy suffered from chronic nightmares, as Edward did, and consequently could not be found a suitable home. That was how Roy Mustang joined the Curtis family and so began Izumi's life of mediating fights and arguments between the two boys but then she was more than up for the challenge.

"I'm going to school," Ed said, grabbing his blazer and school bag.

"Wait I'll give you a ride," Roy called, but Ed was gone. He cursed and mumbled as he pulled his shoes on and grabbed his own bag and car keys, stopping to check his appearance in the hall mirror, something Ed never did.

Ever since Roy had learned to drive and been given a car by his Aunt, the only member of his family he still talked too, he had been offering Ed lifts to school, but Ed always initially refused. As soon as Roy caught site of Ed walking down the street he slowed down and curb crawled. Once he pulled alongside Ed he yelled out of the passenger window, "Get in or you'll be late," before coming to a complete stop to allow Ed to climb into the old beater. Ed growled as he got in.

Roy smoothly parked his car in the school car park and he and Ed climbed out. Most of the female students turned to stare as the two arrived, taking in their chalk and cheese appearances. Roy was tall, dark haired and pale skinned, with dark eyes. His uniform, black trousers, white shirt, dark red tie and matching blazer with the school crest on the breast pocket, was neat yet still managed to look good on him. In contrast, Ed was short, blond, a little more tanned than Roy and had the most startling golden eyes. His uniform had the addition of a, non-regualtion, grey hoodie underneath his blazer, his tie was loose and his shirt un-tucked. In addition his right arm and left leg were prosthetics, replacing the limbs he'd lost as a child before Izumi found him.

"You looks so dapper in that uniform, I'm so proud of you for getting in to the academy," Trisha Elric said, hugging her son tightly.

"Ow, Mom." Alphonse Elric whined. "I need to go now or I'll be late."

"Ok, sure you don't want a lift?"

"Yes, I don't want the whole school thinking I'm a mummy's boy."

"But you are," Trisha said, ruffling her son's hair. Alphonse ducked and dashed out the door, yelling a goodbye behind him. Trisha smiled fondly as her son ran down the street towards the bus stop.

Once he was out of sight she turned back into her house. Glancing at the clock to check how long before her work began. Her eye's fell on the photograph hanging underneath the clock. In the photo she was holding baby Alphonse, next to her stood her husband holding the elder of her two sons. A familiar ache started in her chest. It had been twelve years since she had last seen either of them. Her husband had been involved in something bad, something that meant they had to pack up suddenly and start a new life somewhere else. For ease they had split up, each taking one of the young boys with them, planning to meet up later. Hohenheim had disappeared taking her five-year old with him.

The police turned up nothing, eventually deciding Hohenheim had taken the boy and run. Trisha knew it wasn't true but no one listened. The ache of lose had never left her since that day, even as she watched Alphonse grow into a teenager. Every night she went to bed whispering the same words to the photograph on the wall, knowing the intended recipients could not hear them. "Goodnight Van, goodnight Edward."

Being a scholarship student was hard. Alphonse was already known as the poor kid, the other students coming up with stereotypical scenarios of his life. Most of the other kids were snobby and looked down on him.

He'd heard mention of another scholarship student in the year above him, only ever referred to as Curtis. Alphonse had briefly entertained the idea of finding and befriending this student but decided just because they were both scholarship students didn't mean they had anything in common.

"Hey, apparently there is a new scholarship student in the year below." Ed grunted in reply to the rather annoying voice that insisted on chatting to him while he was reading.

"Word on the street is he's an easier target, so Kimblee's gang may end up with less bruises."

"Ling, that's a terrible thing to say," another voice added. "Ed its break stop reading," the second voice added. Ed just ignored it until the book abruptly left his hand and he was faced with a scowling blonde girl.

"Winry!" Ed moaned, trying to swipe his book back.

"I can cause you a lot of pain, remember," she replied and Ed stopped, sitting staring sulkily at his two best friends.

Winry Rockbell he'd known for years. Her family had outfitted him with the automail that now replaced the limbs he'd lost. In fact she had made the current arm and leg that he used. Ed had only met Ling Yao at high school but instantly the Xingnese man had practically attached himself to Ed claiming they'd be the best of friends, Ed hadn't been able to shake him since.

A group of senior boys joined them, a tall dark haired man with glasses throwing his arms around Ed's shoulders casually.

"Hey Ed," he greeted cheerfully.

"Hey Hughes," Ed replied with a resigned sigh. The boys that now surrounded them were Roy's crew, Ed liked them, though he didn't often show it, as long as Roy was absent. Which happened to be the case currently, also missing was the only female in their group, Riza Hawkeye, the one person who could keep them all in check and frequently did.

"Ed do you know where Roy is? We can't find him," A blonde boy asked.

"Why the hell would I know Jean? You're his friends," Ed hissed back, not caring where their missing ring leader was.

"Well you're like his brother," Jean carelessly replied. Winry was making frantic stop gestures behind Ed, while Hughes gave a long suffering sigh. Meanwhile the others in the group, Heymans Breda, Vato Falman and Kain Furey, moved away from Jean as Ed raised his automail arm and made a fist. "Did I say brother? I meant, erm, house-mate, yeah, that's what I meant." Jean Havoc quickly amended, making placating gestures with his hands. Ed rolled his eyes and lowered his hand with a sigh.

"Where are you going?" Winry asked as he stood up.

"Getting food," Ed replied before walking away.

"Don't trip newbie," the boys laughed as Al cursed softly, berating himself for not paying attention. He could've avoided tripping over the bullies foot if he was looking where he was going, not reading his book. It was a bad habit of his to read while walking and one he realised he needed to drop at this school.

"Wasn't really my fault," Al answered as he stood up. Looking down the corridor he realised it was empty except for him and the three seniors surrounding him.

"Excuse me? Are you blaming me, you could have seriously hurt me with your carelessness. This is why trash shouldn't be allowed into this school."

"Trash?" Al looked up and down the corridor before raising his eyebrow sarcastically. "This school looks pretty clean too me. Now I must be off." As Al tried to step away and hand grabbed his shoulder and shoved him into the wall.

"Are you making fun of me? I'm going to make you sorry you ever even heard of this school," the ring leader of the bullies hissed taking a swing for Al, who ducked causing the bully to punch the wall.

A knee connected with Al's gut causing him to hunch over and slide down the wall. Looking up Al saw the bullies towering over him and realised he was trapped. Pulling back his now bloodied fist the ring leader grinned with the sure certainty his pray was trapped. Al closed his eyes a shielded his head with his arms waiting for the punch to land. Instead there was a dull thunk and a string of bitter swear words.

Opening his eyes Al saw a new figure standing over him. A blonde braid fell down his back and his right arm was held out directly in the path of the bullies punch.

"You better watch it Curtis or I'm going to tear you apart," the bully hissed.

"Whatever you say Kimblee," the stranger replied, inspecting his fingers nails in a disinterested gesture, which Al figured the boy did purely to annoy as he wore gloves. Kimblee narrowed his eyes before turning to his companions.

"Not sure I want to dirty my hands with you filth anyway." With that they were gone.

"Hey thanks," Al said as the stranger relaxed his tense posture. Looking down at Al, he shrugged, holding out his right hand for the Al to grab. Taking hold of it Al's eyes widened in surprise. The hand in the glove was too solid. With a quick yank Al was on his feet next to the boy. "I'm Alphonse Elric. You're Curtis right? What's your surname?" Al asked. The boy laughed.

"Curtis is my surname. I'm Edward, just call me Ed. So if you hadn't worked out by now Alphonse, you don't want to mess with those guys."

"Yeah, got that one figured now," Al replied grabbing his discarded his bag and book.

"See ya."

"Hey wait," Al called after Ed's retreating figure but Ed didn't stop.

The school was filled with the excited chatter of teenagers heading home. Roy walked into the car park Hughes by his side. He scowled when he saw Ed sitting cross legged on the hood of his car. Winry stood by the side of the car chatting to him.

"Hey, you dent my car with you stupid metal leg and I'll dent you," Roy called out when he was in ear shot of the two younger students. Ed shot him a sly grin as Winry looked outraged.

"His what?" she growled, angry that her best piece of work was being insulted. Roy sighed, realising why Ed looked so happy with the statement. Hughes, who'd always got on well with Winry, calmed her down as Roy unlocked the driver's door of his car, leaning over he manually unlocked the rest of the doors.

"You should get a car with automatic locks," Ed grumbled, climbing in the back with Winry.

"You should get a car," Roy answered back, putting the key in the ignition.

A little way down the road Winry pointed at the bus stop ahead of them.

"Hey is that the new kid," she said.

"His name is Alphonse and yes it is," Ed answered, before giving everyone a 'what?' expression when they looked at him, except for Roy who was watching the road.

"You met him? When?" Winry asked.

"Apparently when you weren't tracking me. Hey why you slowing bastard." The last part was directing at Roy who was pulling up at the bus stop. Rolling down he addressed Al, who was surprised that a complete stranger was talking to him.

"Want a lift kid?"

"Erm..."

"I apologize for him complete, but he's harmless," Ed said having rolled his own window down poked his head out to grin at Al.

"I am not harmless shorty," Roy growled and swore as Ed punched him in the back of his head. With a nervous laugh, Al climbed into the back of car, taking Ed's seat as he shuffled over. After Al had given Roy his address introductions were made.

Hughes was dropped off first. Then Winry who, to Al surprise, kissed Ed before she left.

"Wait are you two?" Al asked leaving the question hanging.

"Yeah," was all Ed replied as he climbed into the front seat, leaving Al alone in the back.

"Gotta keep on the good side of his mechanic," Roy said before being punched again by Ed.

"You do that one more time and I swear I'll burn you."

"Yeah right, like you could catch me."

"I specialize in small targets."

"If you weren't driving I'd beat you to a pulp."

"Maybe you two should calm down," Al said nervously, jumping in surprise as Roy laughed.

"Don't worry we've been fighting pretty much none stop since we met, you'll get used to it."

"Yeah, it's all his fault though," Ed said.

"My fault?"

The arguing continued until they reached Al's house. He quickly exited with a thank you, feeling much safer outside the contained area of the car.

"Hey sweetie, how was school? Make any new friends?" Trisha asked, when she got home after a long shift.

"I'm not sure," was Al's cryptic answer.

Thanks for reading! Please review to let me know what you think.

This story pretty much stemmed for one breif idea I had about wanting to write a story where Trisha is still alive. Also reading fanfic I see a lot of people call Hohenheim, Hohenheim Elric. I prefer the manga and brotherhood story-line to the orginal so I shall stick with the manga version of his name (which is technically the correct version), Van Hoheheim. I'm not sure whether this is a first name and a surname or what but I wanted Trisha to use a more intimate name for him, hence her calling him Van. I just wanted to clear that up for anyone, especially if you are not acquainted with the manga/brotherhood storyline, who may have been confused by that. Any other questions please ask.

A note for readers of I Want You: Thank you for your wonderful reviews on the last chapter, you did manage to give me over 200 reviews which makes me very happy and the support and praise I got was wonderful. I also got some helpful hints which I will keep in mind for writing this story, so hopefully it'll be even better.

DT~