Chapter 2

Al's POV

I had been empty for four years, but I barely minded. Sure, I was lonely at night, but at least I still Ed, and I knew he cared about me. He cared enought to give his arm so that I could live.

When he was turned into the stone, I was so determined that there was a way to get him out. I studied all night like he used to, but I wasn't researching how to make the stone. I was researching how to take it apart.

I spent months just trying to figure out, before realizing it was impossible. Even knowing that, I was reluctant using a stone with my own brother's soul in it to get back to normal. I knew it would be what he wanted.

I'm not empty anymore. Not literally, anyways. But there's still an empty space inside of me where Ed used to be.

That is, until my fifteenth birthday. Colonel Mustang came, along with the others that Ed used to work with. In the Colonel's arms was a tiny lump wrapped in a blanket.

"What's that?" I asked curiously.

Roy smiled. "Happy birthday!" He handed me the bundle. I blinked and lifted up the edge of the blanket. My face broke into a huge grin.

"A cat!" I exclaimed. "Thank you so much!" The cat looked just as happy as me. It rubbed it's cheek against my arm affectionately and meowed.

"Be careful with him," Roy warned. "He's got a limp in his back leg." I nodded, still grinning.

The cat meowed happily. I smiled.

Ed's POV

Al has his body back!

And it's his birthday!

He's eating pie that Winry made!

And he's SMILING!

It's funny how being a cat has made me much more enthusiastic about everything. Or maybe it's not because I'm a cat. I think that I would be happy no matter what.

I curled up next to Al's foot and closed my eyes. "I love you, little brother..."

I fell asleep to the sound of his loud, happy voice.

Al and I were sitting on his bed that night. He was staying with Winry, in the same room we always stayed in when we came to visit. Al rubbed my head. It felt good.

"I used to have a brother," he said quietly. I nodded to show I was paying attention.

He looked at his feet, took a deep breath and continued to speak.

"His name was Ed. He loved me and I loved him." I nodded again, agreeing with his statement. "He's dead now." Al sighed and his face changed from happy remembrance to pure sadness.

I shook my head. "I'm right here, Al." Of course, he couldn't hear me. How frustrating.

"He got turned into a philosopher's stone," he continued. "His soul was still in there, so I didn't really feel like he was dead at first. But then I learned that his soul couldn't be removed from the stone and..." Al trailed off.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't comfort him by talking to him. I couldn't hug him, either. I wasn't big enough. I meowed softly, just so that he knew I was still listening.

Al started talking again. "So eventually, I used the stone. I know he WANTED me to get my body back, but it...Didn't feel right. Using his soul. I just..." He wiped his eyes, stopping the tears before they could fall.

"I just wish I could talk to him again," he concluded.

"You are," I said, but he couldn't hear.