Forever Dreaming

"Brother...?"

The sound of his younger brother's voice woke Edward from his dreamless sleep. Unusually tired, the golden angel shrugged off his brother's hand. He was so sleepy, and the fact that Al had just tried to wake him up made him annoyed.

"Brother, you have to wake up...It's time to eat," Al mumbled with a sigh, clearly getting impatient with his older brother. He couldn't even remember the last time Edward had eaten, since it was usually Roy who insisted on taking the role of persuading Ed to keep up with himself.

Clearly, he wasn't so successful.

'I have to take matters into my own hands, now. After all, Edward is my brother.' Al thought, and attempted to wake the angel once again. This time, he flinched lightly at the one-eyed glare his brother sent him. "Please, Ed?" he begged, ready to get on his knees if he needed too. He just hated seeing his brother like this, it killed him inside.

The elder Elric let out a grunt of announce and turned away from his brother, giving him the silent treatment. Ever since Alphonse started giving up on his lover's awake, their brotherly relationship had twisted into something rotten. It wasn't that Edward hated his brother, it was just that it hurt him dearly when Al had given up so easily. He tended to just ignore the boy until he could forgive him, for the moment, at least.

"Edward-" Al started, running a nervous hand though his pony-tail.

"No," the angel cut him off, not even bothering to turn and face him.

"Why not!?" Al cried, his voice wavering. He couldn't believe how stubborn Ed was being, and accidental let his worry slip through his voice. "Brother, stop acting so foolish! You have to eat! When was the last time you had something to eat? Three days ago! Do you not know how much we worry?!" By now, the boy couldn't hold back his tears.

Edward continued to stare out the window in front of him as he laid on the spare bed. Yes, he knew how much everyone worried about him. Roy had come in here and said the same thing, or words that meant the same thing. Riza had come with him that day, and even slaped Ed across the face. Both alchemists had been surprised at her actions, but none spoke of it. The woman also had tears in her eyes; he guessed that she was crying for all of them - Roy, herself, himself, and even Envy.

The golden angel sighed when he took note that Al was still crying. Quietly, he got up from the bed and walked over to the bathroom. "Fine, I'll go...Just...give me a minute."

/--/Break/--/

"Fullmetal...Stop playing with your food."

The golden angel ignored the voice as he continued to move the food about his plate in silence. Ed didn't need to look up to see the stares that were aimed at him. Sure, he had said that he would join Al, but he didn't agree to eating - nor the fact that practically everyone he knew would be there.

"Edward..."

With a sigh, the boy let go of his fork. It hit the glass plate with a loud 'tink' noise, and he finally looked up. First at Roy, and then at Winry. "Why?" He asked simply, and looked at the other two. Riza, who was sitting next to Roy, was the only one who met his gaze with a stern look. Al, Roy, and Winry held concern in their eyes. If they were to fail, Riza could knock - more like shoot - some sense into the elder Elric.

"Why what...?" Roy mumbled, furrowing his dark eyebrows.

"Why do you even bother helping me?" Ed mumbled, looking down at his plate.

"Because we care about you, Ed!" Winry cried out, standing up as her hands clasped together near her chest. "You may not care about your health, but we do!"

"That's right, Fullmetal. You are my subordinate, and therefor my responsibility. I can't have you dying on me," Mustang pitched in, and Riza nodded in agreement. The blond officer would save her words and actions for when the time called for it. Now, she would just sit and agree with the others.

"See, Brother? I told you everyone cared..," Alphonse pointed out, smiling sadly.

"Well I don't...Not until he wake up..," the angel murmured, standing up. The others watched, and Al nervously glanced at the other three people, hoping for them to say something.

Finally, Riza stood. "Edward," she muttered, voice calm, yet harsh. "Stop being so foolish. What if it was you in a coma? Do you think Envy would want you to sulk around as you are doing now?"

Edward glared at the stern woman, and opened his mouth to protest, but closed it right after. Silently, he picked up his jacket and started to leave. "...I'm finished with this pointless talking," he mumbled as he left.

"Edward get back here right now!" Riza called after him as the group watched his small body disappear out the door.

/-/-/-Break-/-/-/

'I don't need them..,' Edward thought numbly as he climbed the staircase. After leaving the restaurant, he returned to his most common hangout, - the hospital - and had decided to take the long way to Envy's room, the seemingly never ending flight of stairs. 'If I'm the only one who believes that Envy will come out of this, then so be it.'

It was so quiet in the hallways on this side of the hospital, it gave the golden-eyed boy an uneasy feeling. Slowly, he began to pick up his speed until it gradually became a sprint. What if something had happened to his lover while he was away? Skidding around a corner, he cursed himself. 'This is why I never left in the first place!' He thought angrily.

His running came to an end when he finally reached Envy's room; his automail hand trapping the handle in a death grip as he tried to regain his breathing. When he deemed himself ready for whatever waited, he slowly opened his door.

A loud gasp could be heard, - after many moments, Edward registered that it was his own - and the teen felt like he would suffer from a sudden heart attack. In front of him, sat his lover, awake and busy staring at the window.

"Envy!" He cried, tears flowing freely down his face in happiness as he rushed over to the sin. Wrapping his arms around him, Edward lost all of his anger and depression he had been holding all these months. After many minutes of just holding onto the homunculus, Edward pulled away. "How do you feel? They said you wouldn't wake up, but I knew you would...The doctors said there was a chance you would-"

Edward cut himself off as he stared into his lover's eyes, tears fading, but still in his eyes. "...No..." he whispered sadly, the smile he held early disappearing. "You're not my Envy, are you?" He asked, raising his left hand to the sin's face and caressing it.

Envy - although he looked the same he had those many month's ago - was no longer the same Envy Edward wished he was. This Envy was still as beautiful as Ed remember, possibly even more. The only real difference was the eyes...

The always bright and playful violet eyes of the deadly homunculus named Envy was no longer that, but now were of dulling color; they way they were so emotionless sent chills down Fullmetal's spine.

Frowning, he whispered quietly, "You...You don't know who I am, do you?"

"...?" The sin only stared blankly; Edward didn't even know if he still had the ability to speak, being out for so long.

Sighing, he brought his real hand to his face and messaged his temple; he tried as hard as he could to hold back the tears - to not break down crying in front of the homunculus. His dreams of going back to the way things were, were now shattered and broken - but deep inside he still had hope that, after many attempts of trying, Envy will remember all the things they did together.

"Well," Edward mumbled, and looked up at the sin. He gave him a sad smile before continuing, "to start things off...Your name is Envy...And in a few minutes, it will be your birthday..."

/--/--/Several Months Later/--/--/

Light humming filled a house for two as Edward stood in the kitchen, washing the dishes he had shared with his lover. It had been several months since Envy's awaken, and things were going pretty well. Suddenly, the sound of the doorbell ringing made the young man pause in his chores. Unsure if he had heard anything, he waited. It range once more, and he quickly dried his hands off as he made his way over to the door.

Opening the door, he was greeted by a man he hoped to never see again. Eyes narrowed at the taller figure, he began to close the door, but it was stuck ajar when the man stuck his foot in. "Go away!" Edward yelled, pushing against the door to close it, despite that the man's foot was in the way.

"Edward, please open the door...I want to see Wil-"

"No! He doesn't want to see you, and neither do I, now go back to the place you've been all these years!" The man brought his foot back, and Ed let out a sigh of relief as he was able to close the door. After checking to make sure the man was gone, the young man walked back over to the kitchen to finish his work. However, as he made his way back, he heard the mans voice once more, only closer.

Golden eyes widening, Edward quickly made his way to the back porch, where Envy was sitting on the porch-swing. 'Damnit,' He thought, cursing himself. 'How could I have forgotten the back entrance?!' When he arrived, he saw Envy in the same spot he had helped him in, but Hohenhiem was now sitting next to him, talking quietly to the unresponsive sin.

Hearing his middle child enter, the immortal man turned and gave Edward a puzzled look. "Oh dear...Mind explaining what has happened to William?" He asked, fixing his glasses to see his son better. "I've been here for five minutes now, and he has yet gone into a fit."

"His name is Envy, and he won't respond to you," Edward mumbled, leaning on the porch's wooden railing. "He doesn't remember you, nor does he remember me; at least, not much. I was planning on leaving you out of his memories, but now that you're here, I guess I'll have to explain to him eventually."

"...Doesn't...remember me?"

Lively golden eyes rolled at his father. 'Why does he have to repeat whatever is said to him?' Edward wondered, and let out a sigh. "In your absence, he was comatose. He can't move on his own, and he can't speak, either; basically, he's a vegetable. He's not the same Envy we knew, but I know, if I keep at it, he will be close enough, and that's all that matters..," he paused, looking from Envy to his father. "Why are you here, anyhow?"

"..." Hohenheim was a strange man of few words, but that didn't mean he didn't care for each of his children. He looked over at the sky from his spot next to Envy, and his frown seemed to deepen. "It's going to rain, I must leave now. My coat isn't rain proof, I'm afraid." The fading golden man stood up and reached for a bag Edward hadn't noticed until now. With a sad smile, he handed it to his middle-child. "Edward, will you please give this to Envy for me? I know how much he loves chocolate moose(1), and I just couldn't visit empty-handed..." The man trailed off as he walked through the house, ready to leave.

Edward followed after him. "Wait! You can't just leave now!" He called after the man, but his father only gave him a small wave. "We still need you!" He watched Hohenheim disappear, and with a frown closed the door. "I need you..."

Silence filled the house as Edward stared at the bag in his hands. Quietly, he made his way over to the friduator and placed the dessert inside. With that out of the way, he began to walk up the stairs, to the room he shared with Envy. Upon reaching it, he locked the door and leaned his back on it. Silent tears started to flow down his tanned cheeks as he slid down to the floor.

"I-I...I can't do this..Not alone..," he whispered to no one after many moments. As he stared up at the ceiling, he could feel his tears drying, leaving his cheeks with a weird feeling. "It's too hard..."

Although he rejected any help from his brother and friends, he knew how hard it would be to take care of Envy. From feeding, to washing, to helping him do day-to-day things, Edward helped his vegetable lover do it all. Taking care of the job with others would prove easier, but Edward also had a paying job to care to - he was the only one who could pay the bills; thus doubling the strain on the young man.

However, with all his work, Envy would smile at him once and a while, and even attempt to say his name. That, in all, was worth all the tears he will, and has, shed for the homunculus.


(1) I've read on Wiki somewhere that Envy loves Chocolate moose..(and so do I -hearts- XD)

Sorry, but I've discontinued the following stories: Malchik Gay, As Your Voice Fades, Memories, and Are We Friends Or Foes Or Possibly More (was that the title? I don't remember -sweatdrop-). However, I will be re-writing Malchik Gay in the future.

I'm also sorry if this seems rushed or poorly written. DX. I have two essays due tomorrow, and I wanted to finish this before typing them up. Also, I wanted to hurry and get this out of the way so I can start a new fanfic -grins-.

Thanks for reading!!

-Love,

Sin Of Tragedy.

P.S.: I do NOT own FMA. I really wish I did...