Okay when I said I was making this five chapters, I really meant it. But as usual, once I start writing, more and more ideas pop into my head making the story longer and (hopefully) better! and now I realise that it is going to be longer then five chapters. So from now on I am not saying how many chapters there are going to be, because honestly, I dont know. There are many plot points that still need to be made and I know there are going to be things that pop up later after I have posted this chapter and started working on the next one. I am sorry to all those who are reading this story and were expecting the end, but it is just the way I write. Please have patience! Oh and Thanks for the reviews!

Okay enough of the annoying author's note, here is the next part!

eNJOY!

The Storm.

Ed woke to the sound of church bells. He moaned refusing to open his eyes. He didn't feel like waking up at the moment, he was quite warm and comfortable underneath the thick comforter and soft plump pillows that lovingly supported his head. He was fully relaxed. There was the sweet smell tea and of something oddly familiar though he couldn't place it so early after waking that greeted him, soothing him. He lay there listening to the bells and tried to remember what day it was and what he had plans he had made.

The memory of Al's confession over come him suddenly and Ed felt his face warm. His brother was in love with him. How weird was that? It was surely unexpected and now that it was later in the morning, when most people where up and about, Ed had no choice but to deal with it.

He sluggishly sat up as the bells ended their song. He guessed it was late morning based on how long the bells had tolled. Running his flesh hand over his face and through his hair, he yawned widely and blinked the sleep out of his eyes. He really didn't want to get up. It would be so easy to pretend that he wasn't awake yet.

He looked around the room for signs of his brother, but he was alone. During his scan of the room he noticed that the tray carrying the tea was gone and his silver pocket watch lay on top of a random stack of papers.

"Alphonse," He whispered.

Ed got to his feet and almost involuntarily end up on his tip toes as he stretched and yawned again. He groaned as the muscles in his back, legs and arms burned in the pleasure that stretching always gave him.

Al could be heard walking briskly pass his bedroom door. Then return, then leave. Ed could see the shadow of Al's feet as he padded across the floor then stop in front of the door.

There was a soft tap on the door followed by Al's soft voice traveling through the door. "Edward are you awake?"

Ed thought about not answering him, but he was more awake now and he didn't have a good reason not to answer. "Yeah Al I'm up!" He called over his shoulder. He went over to the door and opened it to reassure his brother that he was indeed up and about.

"Is there something you wanted?" He asked.

"Oh no. I was starting to worrying. It's already 11 o'clock. I wasn't sure if you had plans or not today. But I didn't want to wake you since I disturbed you sleep last night."

"Thanks. I do have a few things to do, but nothing really important to have to wake up early for."

The two of them looked at each other for a moment, before Al bowed his head.

"Okay, well I'll let you go get ready then." Al said backing away from the door.

"Okay. I'll be out in a minute." He said closing it. He turned around pressing his back to the door so that he'd ended up facing his room.

There was not a lot of light coming into the room so as was his habit, Edward pulled back the curtains, opened his bedroom window and stuck his head outside. The clouds were blocking sunlight, the street lamps were still lit and it was still raining, though no where near the intensity of the tempest last night.

A strong breeze passed over him, blowing through his hair and night clothes. Ed shivered. Quickly closing and locking the window he hugged himself to keep in his warmth. That was when he realized he'd slept in his robe which smelled like sweet tea and it hardened where it had stained. Sighing, he took it off as he headed into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.

The bells were ringing the time again when he stepped out of the shower. He let out a satisfied sigh. Ed loved showers. There was nothing better then the instant feel of hot water pounding onto the aching muscles of your back after a long day at work, or the awakening scent of soap as he washed his face and body in the morning.

The sound and smell of food cooking filled the small apartment as he trekked back into his room. The smell of frying bacon instantly made Ed's stomach growl in hunger. He ignored it as he put on some clean clothes and walked into the kitchen with a towel on his head.

"Hey Al." He said causally, slumping into a chair at the kitchen table. He bowed a little as he viscously rubbed the towel over his head in an effort to dry his long golden hair.

"Afternoon Brother." Al greeted him from the stove.

Ed looked over at him. Al looked different to him.

He had taken off the sweater and found another one of Ed's black tee shirts instead. He was still wearing the clothes Ed had loaned him last night, though now the pants were a bit wrinkled from sleep. They hung low off his hips and Ed noticed that he had to use his own belt in order to keep them from sliding down further.

He smiled secretly to himself, that only meant that the pants were a little big on him. He knew that it was still childish to have this height rivalry with his brother, but some habits took longer to fade than others.

It was when Al's lifted his head to search though a cabinet for a plate that Edward noticed what it was that made Alphonse look so different. It was Al's hair. He had braided his hair and tied it around his head like a natural head band.

It suited him quite nicely. Ed briefly wondered where he had learned that style. But he put it out of his thoughts as he realized Al had caught him staring.

Ed scrubbed his head a few more times before throwing the towel on the table. He then reached back and pulled the blonde locks into the usual ponytail in his hands. With his right hand, he dug into his pants pocket for the hair band he had put in there for safe keeping until his hair was semi-dry.

"Something smells good." Ed said just as Al set a plate of food in front of him. He grew quiet as the smell in the comforter he couldn't place returned as Al came up behind him with a glass of orange juice. So that smell was Al, he thought as he turned his head to smell it again.

"I heard the shower running and knew you were finally up. So I thought I would make you something to eat. I know how hungry you get when you first wake up."

"Thanks for the food Al." Ed said eagerly shoving it into his mouth. Half the food was devoured when Edward paused as he looked up at his brother as he began to walk away.

"Wait, since when have I had an apron?" He said tugging at the end of it. Alphonse blushed.

"I found it crammed in one of your junk drawers as I straightened up."

"You picked up?" He interrupted, leaning in his chair. He looked around the apartment.

Al blushed even more deeply. "A bit. There wasn't much else to do until you woke up, besides it really needed it. You really need to take better care of your stuff."

"Al-"

"I mean I realize that you are a very busy man. . .

"Al-"

"But that doesn't mean that you should allow yourself to live in a dump."

"AL!"

Al stopped talking and looked at his brother.

"Um about last night."

"Yeah." Al said very softly lowering his head. He sat across from him staring at a button on the older Elric's shirt.

"Look, I'm not telling things that you don't already know. You've probably tortured yourself with these thoughts. And to be honest that is to say that I-I am uh, I am, well, flattered, but you know that I can't…I mean, I'm not…and you're my…" He paused the words not coming out the way he wanted them.

Across the table Al had rested his head on his chest. Ed feared that he was sinking back into that same place in his mind he'd been in last night. Ed was torn in two. On one side he wanted to say the words that would make Al's dream come true, but on the other side, he wanted to be honest with Al.

"I told you last night that I would never reject you, and I'm not, not really. It's just, I don't know if I can return your feelings. I mean I haven't thought about it all that much." Listen to me I sound like a babbling idiot. He screamed to himself he opened his mouth to speak but there was a knock on the front door.

Both brothers looked over to the door as if just looking at it would give them the ability to see through it so see who it was.

"Are you going to get that?"

"No."

The knocking on the door continued but this time it was accompanied with a loud male voice.

"EDDDIIIIIIE OPEN THE DOOR! I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN THERE! STOP TOUCHING YOURSELF AND COME ANSWER THE DOOR!"

Ed jumped up and ran over to the door.

Opening the it he was greeted by a tall young man with dark brown hair. "Afternoon Mr. Elric. What's up?"

He asked raising a hand in welcome.

It was Tristan, one of his neighbors from across the hall.

"What the Hell do you want?" Ed growled.

"Ha- I knew you'd say that. Marsh owes me ten bucks and a foot rub!" Tristan said inviting himself inside.

Ed stared at the spot where Tristan once stood. "Ah hello Tristan. How are you?" Ed turned around and raising his voice a bit said. "Not bad. Sorry to bother you Edward, especially on a Sunday. I don't want to impose or anything. ." Ed said to himself holding up both hands. He returned to his original position as he acted out the conversation. "Not at all, glad to have you. Come in, come in." Ed said finishing his dialogue as he closed the door. Honestly, how hard is it to act normal?

"I won't ask you what took you so long to answer the door." Tristan said turning around on his heels.

"You realize that you've made it sound like I'm some sort of pervert or something?"

"Man that was quite a storm that we had last night." Tristan said ignoring Ed's last comment. He smiled

brightly as he walked backward into the living room.

"Yes it was." Ed agreed solemnly.

Alphonse came into the room, the apron now discarded. "Hey Ed who was that at the door…oh Hello!" Al said cheerfully as he saw Tristan.

"Oh let me introduce you two. Al this is Tristan." Ed said. "Tristan this is Alphonse, my little brother."

"Oh so this is the elusive Alphonse Elric.' Tristan said slyly looking Al over. "I was beginning to think you were a figment of Ed's imagination. The way he talks about you it was as if an angel had descend from Heaven and took the form of little brother Alphonse. Bought here only to keep an eye on little Big Brother Eddie!" Tristan said a foot perched on the coffee table arms in the air as he continued to pose dramatically after each sentence (think Hughes-sama). " 'I wish Al were here, he's the only one who understands me! I'm so lost without him! The world is a dark and lonely place without him' " Tristan said in his best impersonation of Edward.

"Shut up! I don't say crap like that!" Ed yelled playfully wrapping his flesh arm around Tristan's neck, pulling him off the table. "And don't call me little!"

"Aw is little Eddie blushing?" Tristan mocked easily dodging Ed's fist.

"I am not!" Ed defended blushing even more.

"Yes you are. That's so cute!"

"No it's not!"

They stopped fighting at the sound of Al's laughter.

"You guys seem like close friends." Al managed when he'd stopped laughing.

"Oh we're more then friends my dear little Ally." Tristan taunted wrapping Ed's arms around his shoulders.

"We're lovers."

"What?" Both Ed and Al exclaimed.

"Man you both are too easy to tease!" Tristan snickered releasing Ed, who promptly moved over towards Alphonse.

"Did you only come over here to make fun of us?"

"Ok ok, I've had my fun." he said sobering up. "I was just checking to see if you had any damage from the storm that you wanted to have cleared. I called the City, but all the lines were busy, so I left Marshall to wait on the phone. I've been waiting since eight o'clock. Can you believe that! I figured if I could tell them about all the damage in the neighborhood and what a hindrance it is to get around, they might send someone out quicker."

"Well I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary." Alphonse said looking around the room. "Are you sure that there isn't anything that we can do to help?"

"Depending on how far Marshall has gotten with the City I was planning on round up of few people and start removing some of the stuff ourselves. I know the old tree out back as a bunch of branched down and a few of the street lamps are bent over. Also the roof of the Miller's dog house has caved in. It's a good thing they had the sense to bring the poor thing in before the storm."

"We'll help out." Al volunteered going over to gather his coat. Ed knew that after hearing about animals possible being hurt Alphonse would jump at the chance to help.

"Great! Let me go check on Marsh and I'll let you know what else needs to be done." Tristan said heading for the door.

"We don't have to wait for the City, we can do this ourselves." Al said a determined look coming over his soft features. "We don't know how long they'll be and if they don't have to come here they can help someone else quicker."

"Oh Ally!" Tristan cheered pulling Alphonse into a crushing hug. "You are so cool Al, unlike Eddie, you care about others."

Ed just growled refusing to rise to the bait. The impulse to throw Tristan off his brother was starting an itch in his fingers.

"That's not true." Alphonse defended. "Ed's cares."

"Oh Al you are so kind! I love you!" Tristan exclaimed rubbing the side of Al's face with his cheek. "I wish I had someone as adorable as you to keep me company."

"Tristan you let go of Al right now!" Ed said his anger getting the best of him.

"Oh I get it, you're so greedy Ed, haven't you ever heard of sharing?"

"Not Al." Ed said his voice dangerously low.

The room went silent for a moment as both Tristan and Al looked at Edward. A sudden burning in his face telling him that even he seemed surprised at his words.

The sound of Ed's voice told Tristan that he wasn't playing around anymore. He sighed and stopped hugging Al. "Well I'm off to tell Marsh he can get off the phone now. How about you guys meet us at the front of the building? We'll coordinate with the rest of those that I can get to help out."

"That sounds fine." Al offered nodding when Ed didn't say anything.

"By the way Eddie, anger and jealously only makes you look short! Ha, I keeping this!" Tristan said catching the throw pillow Ed had thrown at him.

"God, he's annoying." Ed sighed pulling on his own jacket. " Jealously makes you short! Ha, that doesn't even make sense."

"I like him." Al said pulling on his shoes. "I think he's funny."

"His jokes get old quick, trust me."

Al laughed and grabbed his brother's hand. "Hey I think you've just sunk an inch." He commented as he dragged his brother into the hallway.

"Oh, not you too Al?" Ed groaned, closing and locking the apartment door. He placed the key into his pocket as the laughter coming out of Al continued ringing in his ears.

Ed's not jealous at all is his? snickers I am sorry that it's short (no Ed pun intended) and that nothing is really happening. I'll make it up to you by posting a new long chapter soon.