Yes, here's the next installment. I actually have the ENTIRE rough copy finished. It's simply a matter of typing and posting the stupid thing. So…yeah. Enjoy part three (technically Chapter 2) and I'll hopefully get the rest up soon.

Still Ed's POV

I woke to the soft knocking of my brother outside my door. Still sleepy, I pulled myself out of bed, found my discarded clothes, pulled them on, and opened my bedroom door.

If Al could have smiled, I'm sure he would have. I heard him chuckle at my rather unflattering morning appearance.

"Rough night, nii-san?" he teased good naturedly.

I shrugged and smiled. "I've had worse."

Suddenly, something seemed to catch my brother's attention. He was significantly taller than me – although it pains me to admit it – so it was no doubt the slobbish condition of my room. Or so I told myself.

"Sorry about the mess Al," I apologized, convinced that was the reason for his stunned silence. "I haven't had time to clean up yet."

Al shook his head slowly, the metal of his body making a faint grinding noise at the movement.

I frowned. "What's wrong Al?" I asked, finally turning to see what the problem was. "It's not that bad is…" I broke off as my eyes fell upon what Al was no doubt shocked to find.

Envy was still fast asleep in my bed, his flamboyant hair pooled out on my pillow, the covers falling haphazardly about his bare waist.

I felt the blood rush to my face and I spun around quickly to once again face my brother. I tried desperately to gather my thoughts, to formulate something to say.

Al simply stood there, moving his gaze from me to the sleeping Envy. If he hadn't been that suit of armor, I'm sure his jaw would've been dropped, his eyes widened, and his face paled.

"I…it's not what you think," I stammered pathetically, "He…I…we…argh!"

Covering my face with my hands, I tried to think of something – anything – to stop this train wreck from getting worse. I couldn't shoo Al away and hope he dismissed it as a bad dream, and lying was definitely out of the question. Sighing resignedly, I looked at Al. There was only one thing to do that wouldn't haunt my conscience forever.

I took several steps back, just enough to free up the doorway. Starting solemnly at my brother, I said, "Al, if you come in, I'll explain everything as best I can. If you think you'd rather not know, you can walk away. But if you walk away, I have to trust that you aren't going to tell anyone what you've seen."

Al seemed hesitant, but finally shuffled quietly into the room. Once again, his gaze darted from me to Envy.

I motioned for him to sit down in my desk chair, and he gratefully took the opportunity to momentarily think about something else.

As my brother cleared my various papers off of the chair, I wandered over to the bed. Why was Envy still here? He knew as well as I did that we had to keep our night visits a secret. Just as much was at risk for him as it was for me. But I didn't have time for that just yet.

Sitting on the bed, I pulled the covers up to better conceal the homunculus. I then turned my eyes to Al who was sitting shyly at my desk.

"Look, Al," I started awkwardly, "The first thing you have to understand is that I'm not even entirely sure as to what's going on. This…" I motioned to Envy. "…kind of just happened. Well, not 'just' as in just recently; 'just' as in out of nowhere."

I paused to make sure Al understood. He obviously realized this as he nodded quietly.

Biting my lower lip, I debated where to start; how much to disclose. I frowned slightly before continuing. "I guess the sum of the whole story is that Envy showed up and, instead of trying to kill me, he started talking. Just out of the blue. Woke me up and everything. I admit I was suspicious, but he'd really just come to get a bunch of stuff off his chest. He told me that I was the only one he felt he had left, even if I did hate him. And it went on like that for the next three or four nights."

I cast a glance over my shoulder at the subject of our conversation. Something about his breathing seemed odd.

Regardless, I pressed on, knowing that Al deserved to know. "It was on his fourth or fifth visit when I asked him if there was even anything left to talk about. I'd only asked because he seemed different than the other times; less distracted. He told me he'd realized something and that I'd be seeing a lot more of him. I took it as a threat and went on the offensive before he could try anything. Bu I'd been expecting an attack on my life. What he did though…well…" I could feel the blush staining my cheeks and I found it difficult to carry on.

"I kissed him," Envy's voice finished from behind me. "And explained that I'd fallen in love with him."

My body tensed and I turned around to face him. He smiled at my obviously shocked expression. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to demand why he was still here. And yet, at the same time, I wanted to thank him for finishing what I knew I couldn't.

Al stared at us both in silence for a moment before whispering, "So, you two have been seeing each other every night since?"

I nodded and I could feel Envy's hair brush along my back as he did the same.

"But nii-san," Al continued, "You never said if you were in love with Envy."

Memories of what I'd said came flooding into my mind. I'd spoken those words, hadn't I? I'd told him I loved him. But did I mean it or was it simply said for the moment? I'd never spoken those words to anyone before, and to think that Envy was the one who inspired them…it was too confusing.

I got up and shuffled over to my door. Pulling it open, I looked at my brother and said softly, "Al, you should go. I'm sure someone's wondering where the Elric brothers are by now."

Al seemed shocked. "But…" he started. However, he realized that I was pained and simply cast one final glance at the homunculus before quietly taking his leave.

As I closed the door, I heard the sound of Envy shape shifting, no doubt doing so to regain his clothes. I couldn't face him. I was sure my indecision over my brother's question had hurt him.

"Why are you still here?" I asked without turning around. "You're putting us both at risk."

"I slept in," he answered offhandedly.

I cursed him under my breath; cursed myself for not checking before opening the door. Snarling through my teeth, I retorted, "That's a load of crap. You've never 'slept in' before because you're smarter than that. And I doubt your little vacation numbed your brain that much. So what are you trying to do? Why did you stay?"

I heard him come up behind me, felt him wrap his arms around me. Yet I continued to refuse to look at him.

"You seemed different last night," he whispered into my ear, "I was worried."

Snorting derisively, I shot back, "Like hell you were…"

He sighed heavily, slowly slipping away from me. I kept my eyes fixed on the door.

"Fine," he muttered, "I'm going." And with that, I heard him leave.

My body trembled, releasing tension I didn't know I was holding back. But something wasn't right. I didn't feel relief at knowing he was gone. I felt something else, something unfamiliar, like a sinking in my chest.

Sliding to the floor, I curled up against myself and began to cry. I didn't know why. I just did.