AN: I wanted to give Envy some sense of humanity in this story since he's been living with Edward and his family for so long.

"I'm tired,

I'm Worn,

My Heart is heavy

From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes I've let my hope fail,

My soul feels crushed from the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest so I cry out

With all that I have left"

My Heart is Heavy chap.2

Later that night Envy and Al were in the dungeon talking when Edward walked in. Envy looked at his younger sibling and feelings of pain and hurt clouded his mind. He had never felt these feelings before and he had missed the last months of Edward's wife coming to read to him. He never really knew how much he had enjoyed it till she wasn't there to do it anymore. As Edward tried to put up a good front for his brother's they knew deep inside he was crushed beyond repair. His demeanor had changed from happy go lucky to sad and pathetic and Envy couldn't stand seeing the once vibrant Fullmetal alchemist turn into this puddle of pathetic mess that was in front of him now. He had never felt love but Edward's wife had read those books to him and if love was anything like what was in those books he could relate to Edward's feelings.

As Edward walked over he had a book in his hands as he sat at Envy's tail. Slowly his gaze came up and he said softly "Windy was reading this to you and you weren't finished yet. There are still two chapters left so I'll read them to you." Envy's heart sank as Edward opened the book and began to read out loud to him. Al sat back and listened also as their brother chocked on a few parts that were of a happy couple with a happy ending. Tears streaming down his cheeks he finished the book and closed it then slightly looked up feeling empty and numb Edward laid against Envy's tail. As the brothers talked Edward's eyes began to slowly droop as he drifted off from exhaustion. Al turned and slightly smiled "He's so exhausted I'll wake him and put him to bed."

Envy's head shot up "NO! leave him here. I'll watch over him tonight you need sleep too my brother. You're just as exhausted as he is." Curling his tail around Edward Al reached for a blanket and covered him up. Giving Envy one last look "You're sure he can be a handful sometimes." Envy grinned "Yes I'll just strangle him with my tail if he gets to out of hand." Looking solemnly back to Edward Envy smiled a toothy serpent smile "Just joking he'll be fine here with me." Al chuckled at the sight of the great green serpent who at one time had been their enemy but was now their brother wrap himself around Edward and lay his head next to his. Al knew Envy had become part of the family and even though he didn't know how to show or feel emotions Al knew he was grieving in his own way.

A few hours later Envy was awoken by the sounds of faint cries and then he felt Edward thrashing around in the circle of his body. Raising his head and looking down to Edward he saw the tears streaming from his eyes as he thrashed and called Windy's name. Envy could only watch as Edward relived this turmoil of the accident. He knew Ed blamed himself but Al was right there was nothing Ed could have done to save her. Exhaustion had set into Edward as the hours went on and Envy could only give his brother comfort by tightening his body around him and making him feel safe as his thrashing about slowed and he curled more into Envy tail. "Sleep my brother. I don't know the pain you feel but I assure you I will find a way to take that pain away in time. You and your family have brought me great happiness and I wish we could have been brothers from the start. I'm sorry for ever trying to cause you pain because if this is what pain does to you I would never want to inflict it on you. We were enemies once and you still brought me into your life and made me feel loved. That is what I want for you Edward is to feel love again and I swear I'll figure out a way for you to be happy again." Envy felt a tear roll down his serpent cheek and never in his existence had he ever cried or felt such emotion as he felt right there at that moment talking to his sleeping brother. He remembered how Edward used to always watch out for Al and protect him. Now he was the oldest and Edward was the younger brother and Envy had this strange feeling of wanting to protect Edward, Al and the children. He figured the only way to do that was to send the Pipsqueak back to Amestis where he had friends to help him through this. Edward staying in this world was not an option Envy was up to arguing about if Edward were to stay he would just fall deeper into depression and that's one thing that this homunculus didn't want to see. His feelings for his new found family had grown strong over these past seventeen years and it was going to be over his dead body that they would all suffer. Sitting there holding Edward that night and listening to his cries in his sleep Envy felt a bond with Edward that he had never felt before.

The next morning Edward opened his eyes to find Envy staring out the window of the dungeon and as he turned to look at his brother who just woke up his head lowered "You had quite the night my brother." Edward shook his head slowly "I'm sorry did I keep you awake." Feeling a slight sadness Envy looked at him "No I was just glad I could be there for you." Edward had noticed that Envy had started referring to feelings the past few years and he tried to teach him about them. So standing up he walked over to the window and stared out to. "You know I honestly don't understand what happened that day. Everything was going so well then-" His head lowered and Envy saw the tears began to flow again "Then the next thing I knew my whole world came crashing down." Edward had held his wife in his arms as she passed at the crash site. He felt her last breath leave her body and she had made him promise her that if he could get back to his own home that he would take the children to show them this world where all the missiles, rockets and destruction had never existed.

He felt a heaviness weighing on his heart as he leaned against Envy "Don't worry my brother everything will be alright." Envy told him as he made his mind up right then and there that he was going to talk to Al about his plan. He was going to give his own life up so that Al could open the gate and take the pipsqueak, the brother he'd grown to love, the one who saved him and took him in and taught him the ways of a human even though he was a serpent. He was going to give the life he had left for Ed and Al to take Ed's children and go home. That was going to be his greatest sacrifice for the family he'd grown to love. But he knew the pipsqueak would be against the whole idea that's why he needed to talk to Al.

A few nights later Al came to the dungeon to talk with Envy and he decided to tell Al his plan. As they discussed Edwards worsening spiral downward Envy broached the subject "Why not take him home Al? Get him away from this world if you don't he'll just dwell on the accident. He needs time to heal and you and I both know who can help him with that. She was the only other person that could get through to him when you couldn't and being around her might help ease the pain for him." Al thought for a moment then looked at Envy seriously "Or it would drive him completely over the edge because she looks just like her."

Envy sighed as he tried to explain "But she's not her and Edward would know that. Winry and Windy were two completely different people but Winry's strong will and straight talk to Edward might just help him." Al lowered his head then turned his eyes towards Envy "Even if I wanted to take him back I couldn't open the gate." Envy moved over next to Al "That's where you're wrong." Al looked up at him confused then realizing what Envy was saying his eyes widened "NO! We are not doing that!" Envy got frustrated "I'm dying anyway it's just a matter of time. SO take my life and take our brother home you imbecile." Al sat there and heard Envy out but in his heart he knew Ed would be furious but the points Envy made were realistic. If Edward stayed on this side his spirit would never have a chance to heal and his heart would just close off to everybody.

Not wanting to give Envy an answer at this particular time Al sat forward "Alright I understand what you're saying but still it's a hard decision. You're both my brother's and I've grown to love you just as much as Ed."

"Yes but you and Edward have a bond stronger than any of us could ever have so I'll make the decision for you. Take my life it's all I have to give him, the life and sanity he deserves. Take him back and let everyone help him be the person he once was. That is the only way I will be truly at rest I don't want to die a worthless life when I can give him back what he lost." Leaning into Al's face Envy had a look in his eyes that Al had never seen. It was a pleading look a look of serenity and he actually looked at peace when he was saying all this. Al sighed as he stood up "I'll keep it in mind and let's give it a few more weeks. School starts soon and he'll be going back to work. He loves the kids he teaches and maybe that will help."

Turning Envy stared out the window "You humans make no sense to me. I'm giving you a way brother and you know as well as I that the kids he teaches are not going to make a difference with the loss he feels. It's been two months and a few more weeks will not make a difference. " Al stood there and knew Envy was right he also noticed that over these past years he had been with them he had gotten more in touch with his feelings than any of them ever noticed.

Leaving the dungeon and walking upstairs Al stopped noticing Edward asleep on the couch. He was moving his head side to side and talking in his sleep and all he kept saying was "I'm sorry Windy. I'm sorry." Al's heart broke for his brother at that moment and he realized Ed needed something more than time to heal. Turning around and descending the stairs again he walked up behind Envy "Alright I will agree to it but know this brother. I hold a great respect for your sacrifice and I don't agree with it. But I know your just trying to help Ed and if this is what you want to do to help him." Envy turned to stare at Al as Al's head lowered "Know that I would do the same as you." Envy smiled a toothy serpent smile "I have just enough power left to open the gate once so figure when you want to do it and I'll be ready." Turning back to the window he spoke softly "The pipsqueak isn't going to like this but tell him when he's back to himself that it was my sacrifice because I've grown to love him so much. Thank him for showing me a life of happiness and what a family truly is all about." Al nodded in agreement as he turned and left the serpent homunculus alone with his thoughts.