Edward Elric awoke to the gentle shaking of his shoulder

Edward Elric awoke to the gentle shaking of his shoulder.

"Wake up," a soft voice murmured. Opening his eyes revealed his mother to be standing over him. "Good morning sleepyhead," the woman smiled.

"Morning Mom," Ed yawned. He looked over at his alarm clock, wondering why he didn't hear it go off. 8:27. And it was Saturday. "Why'd ya wake me up so early?"

"Breakfast is ready," was all she said. With that Trisha Elric left the room.

With a groan Ed rolled out of bed and began scrounging for clean cloths. The smell of breakfast wafted up from the kitchen and Ed's stomach alerted him to it's need for food.

Finally dressed, after ranting at his dresser when he'd stubbed his toe, Ed made his way downstairs. Upon entering the kitchen he saw his mother at the stove, cooking eggs, his father at the table, reading the paper, and his brother, Alphonse, at the same table shoving pancakes down his throat. He noticed a plate on the table that hadn't been touched, with a scoop of ice cream on top. Ed smiled crookedly, "I'm guessing this is mine."

"It is," Trisha smiled. "Eat up, birthday boy."

Ed rolled his eyes half heartedly and dug into his birthday breakfast. He had a feeling his breakfast was different from what everyone else was eating and he couldn't help throwing a glance at his brother. Al nodded. So his were special.

After he'd swallowed he asked again, "Why'd you have to wake me up so early?"

"You know the saying, sweetie. 'Early to bed, early to rise'."

"Mom, the other half of that saying is, 'Makes a lady charming, pretty and wise'. I don't think it really applies to me," Ed sighed.

His mother shrugged and returned to her cooking. Alphonse decided to make a well placed comment. "I don't know. I think it applies."

Ed looked at his brother. "Why do you think that?" he said slowly.

Al smiled wickedly. "Because with your long hair, you look like a gir-"

Al didn't get a chance to finish as he was preoccupied with running away from a very irate Ed. "WHO'D LOOK PRETTY IN A PROM DRESS?" Ed shouted as he tried to tackle his brother.

"You would!" Al laughed as he ran into the bathroom and locked the door.

If looks could kill, the door would have blown up from the glare it received from Ed. "Stupid fucking door." With a finale, frustrated kick at the innocent door, Ed stormed back into the kitchen to plot his revenge, and finished his pancakes.

"Edward," Trisha said sharply, "watch your language."

"But, did you hear what he said?" Edward whined.

Trisha sighed. Sometimes her son could be so immature. "It doesn't matter what he said. You're older and shouldn't act like that around your younger brother."

Ed opened his mouth to reply but thought better of it. Closing his mouth he scowled and walked to the table and roughly pulled back his chair. He sat down harshly and then pouted, even though he said he wasn't when his father pointed this out. "I don't pout, dad."

"It certainly looked like you were," Hohenhiem smiled.

Ed simply glared in response. At that time Al returned, so the glare became a permanent resident of the Elric family's kitchen on that fine Saturday morning.

It was a couple hours later, after the morning's events had been forgotten, that humor was lost in the Elric home. The two teens were in the TV room watching a horror movie that was playing on TV. Al was getting rather frightened while Ed was trying hard not to laugh.

"Al. How can you be scared? This movie is so cheesy," Ed over at the boy in question.

"It's scary Ed. There must be something wrong with you if you can't see that."

"There's nothing wrong with me," Ed huffed indignantly.

Al glared. "Whatever."

"Boys."

They looked up and saw their father standing in the doorway. "Yeah?" Ed asked.

"I know that you boys are going to the Tringum's tonight," Hohenheim started.

"Yep. Russell's throwing a part," the younger said.

Hohenheim smiled sadly. "I know. I just wanted to tell you to be careful."

This attracted Ed's attention. Normally their father let them do whatever they wanted; it was their mother who always gave the parental warnings. This was something that was different and it required further attention. "What's happened?"

His father looked at his oldest son solemnly "Very perceptive Ed." Edward nodded. "Another vampire attack occurred last night."

Al paled. Ed simply snorted. "They happen all the time dad. Why worry about this one?"

Hohenheim sighed. "It was two houses down from us this time."

"That's where Nina Tucker lives!" Al gasped. "Is she okay?"

Hohenheim shook his head. "I'm sorry. She and her mother were killed," he said sadly. "No one knows where her father is, but the police are assuming he also died."

There was a silence as boys processed this information. Then Al came to a conclusion. "I'm not going to the party."

"What?" Ed stared.

"You heard me. I don't wanna go if there are vampires near us," Al whimpered.

Hohenheim interrupted. "It's his decision, Ed. Do you still want to go?"

"Yeah. I can probably get a ride home."

Their father smiled softly. "Thank you Ed."

Ed shrugged and turned back to the movie. Little did he know what was in store for him that night.

"Be careful Edward," Winry Rockbell called to him as he walked out of the Trignam residence.

Ed lazily waved to her, "I will."

Russell Trignam ran up to Ed, "You sure you don't want to stay the night?"

"Positive." Ed sighed. "My mom would worry herself into a coma if I didn't come home tonight."

"Alright." Though most wouldn't notice, there was a hint of worry laced in Russell's words.

"I'll be fine."

Russell shook his head and walked back to his house, "If you say so."

Ed shrugged and began walking home. He hadn't been able to grab a ride. Most of the kids Russell had invited to his party hadn't come. It had only been Russell, his younger brother Fletcher, Winry, the new girl Rose and Paniya; a friend of Winry's who was visiting from Rush Valley. The three girls were staying the night. Edward didn't want to impose so he headed home.

It took him little over ten minutes to make it home. But the site that met him when he arrived was shocking.

Flashing red and blue lights snatched his attention before his house was even in sight. As he approached, he realized the police cars and ambulances were in front of his house. Panic was rushed through his veins immediately. The blond ran over to his house as fast as he could thinking of nothing but his family. He was almost there when a police officer caught him.

"Hold on son," he said. "Where do you think you're going?"

Ed struggled, trying to escape the man's grasp, "Let me go damnit! That's my house!"

The officer looked at Ed in shock for a moment. "Hey, Breda!" the man called to another officer.

A slightly overweight man walked up to the two. "Yeah Falman?"

"This kid says he lives here."

Breda's eyes widened. He looked at Ed. "What's your name?"

"Edward Elric," he snapped. "What's going on?"

The two men ignored him. "Is he the other son?" Falman asked.

"Yeah. The older one," Breda sighed. He turned to Ed. "Where have you been?"

"A friend's house. What's happening?" Ed demanded

Breda looked uncomfortable. "I hate to break it to you kid," he started ignoring the look Ed gave him at being called 'kid', "but your family was attacked by a group of vampires. They call themselves 'Homunculi'," he paused. "It, it's not pretty."

Ed blinked and backed away from the two men. "You're kidding, right?"

Falman shook his head. "I wish we were."

"I wanna see my mom and dad." Ed said suddenly.

The police officers exchanged looks. "You can't." Breda said simply.

"Why the hell not?" Ed yelled, praying they didn't mean what he thought they meant.

Falman put a hand on Ed's shoulder. "I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you this Edward, but your parents were killed."

The world came crashing down around him as Ed processed these words. His parents were dead. They were gone. He was never going to see them again. "No," Ed whispered.

The two men watched Ed with sympathy. They were about to say something when another, younger officer ran up to them. "Yes Fuery?"

"There's a survivor." Fuery said. He proceeded to fill in the other officers on the information. When he was done he went to inform the other officers of the update.

Breda walked over to Ed. He shook the boy's shoulder. "Kid, I have some good news."

Ed looked up at him with empty eyes. "Huh?" he asked half-heartedly.

"Your brother is alive."

Those four words saved Ed from whatever dark place he'd been trapped in. "Where is he?"

"They're taking him to the hospital,." Breda turned around to look for somebody. "Hey Falman! See if you someone can take the kid to the hospital."

"Sure." the older man walked away.

"How is he?" Ed asked quietly.

Breda turned back to Ed. "He's in critical condition. Other than that, I don't really know"

Falman came back. "Ross can take him. She's over there," he pointed to a squad car on the other side of his house. "We're needed," he whispered to Breda.

Breda nodded, "Kid, that woman in that patrol car over there is going to take you to the hospital to see your brother. We have to go. I'm sorry."

The two officers nodded to the boy and walked away quickly. Ed, still in shock, walked in the general direction of the patrol car. As he passed by the front door he looked inside. He soon realized that was a mistake.

There was blood everywhere. It covered the walls, the floors and furniture. It hit Ed like lightning. His parents hadn't been killed. They'd been massacred. Torn apart. It was the last thought Ed had before the world went black.

He watched as the boy's eyes widened then closed as he fell backwards onto the ground. He felt anger ripple through his body. How dare that bastard let his freaks hurt the boy! Not only have his plans been ruined but it'll be harder for the boy to trust him now.

"Damnit." he hissed.

"Sir, should we continue this?" one of his followers questioned. "The stakes have changed and it's apparent he has taken interest in the boy as well."

"We'll continue," he stood up and watched as police officers rushed over to the boy. "Watch the boy to make sure that bastard doesn't get to him."

"Sir, where are you going?"

"The hospital, I have an idea."