Author's Note: Pardon this painfully pointless, overly short, and horribly late chapter. The problem with writing a book all on the same document and not deciding where chapter breaks are until AFTER it's finished is that you get some reeeeeally short chapters and then some reeeeeally long chapters... -.-;; But I'm afraid I'm going to have to live with that mistake.

Chapter 7: Invention

If necessity is the mother of invention, discontent is the father of progress. – David Rockefeller

The next morning, Edward was up before Alphonse again. The younger boy looked completely calm in his sleep… as if he had not been pleading a few hours earlier. Ed waited a few minutes—or rather seconds—before his impatience got the best of him and he stood up to shake Al awake.

"Al, wake up," he urged, "its important!"

Alphonse groaned and swatted at Ed's hand.

"Five more minutes…" he mumbled sleepily.

"I can't wait five more minutes!" Edward sighed in over exaggeration.

Groaning in annoyance, Al sat up. "Why is it that you want me to get up so badly, then?"

"Al, did you have a dream last night?"

Alphonse stared at Edward with irritation and confusion written all over his face.

"Why do you—?"

"Just tell me!" Edward insisted.

"Okay, then!" Alphonse gave Ed one last concerned look. "Yeah, I did. Happy?"

"What was it about?"

"Ed, are you feeling okay?" Alphonse asked, "You're acting strange."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Edward crossed his arms. "Now stop beating around the bush."

Alphonse shook his head. "I don't remember what it was about. I just remember having a dream." He pulled his knees up to his chest.

Edward's arms fell, as did his face. "Well, do you remember anything about it at all? A face? A picture? A feeling?"

"Can I ask you why you want to know?"

"No."

"Geez, I feel like I'm being interrogated. Did I do something wrong?"

"No, but you're kind of annoying me right now. Answer me!"

Alphonse tilted his head in thought. "I think it was like a nightmare. I remember feeling scared… and alone. And I think you might have been in it."

"Me?" Edward's hopes lifted.

"Maybe, maybe not."

Edward probably looked nervous, so he added, "It's probably nothing. I have dreams about people I just met all the time."

Edward shook his head. "No, it's fine. Thanks Alphonse, that's what I wanted to hear." He began walking out of the bedroom.

"Wait, that's it? Aren't you going to explain to me why you asked?" Alphonse seemed frantic and confused.

"Maybe later," Edward waved him off, mulling through the information Al had just given him.

Maybe there is a way to get him back…

Alphonse got home from work early that night.

"Ed? Hello, I'm home!"

Edward walked into the front hallway with a smile plastered on his face. He helped Alphonse with his coat and shoes and brought him into the living room with tea.

"You're in a good mood today," Al commented as Edward set two tea cups on the table.

"Well, I was thinking while you were gone about how I felt bad that I wasn't useful for cooking here—"

"Ed, I told you I don't mind!"

"Just let me finish! I was trying to think of anything… anything that I could fix up to make your life easier. Then I remembered that I can make tea!"

Al snorted. "You're nineteen years old… and all you can make is tea?"

Edward glared at him. "It's not like I never tried anything else… it's just that it's pretty much impossible to burn tea… or hot chocolate, I can make that too."

"Mmm… I love hot chocolate."

Edward smiled warmly. "I know… and I have a feeling you'll really like this tea, too. My old friend used to really love it."

Edward guided his little brother into the kitchen where a steaming cup of tea was waiting for him on the table. Alphonse sat down and took a small sip. Instantly, his face lit up.

"Hey, this is really good!"

Edward grinned, "So I am good for something."

Alphonse laughed, "Ed, don't say that!"

"There is something else I'm good at, too."

Alphonse looked at him curiously.

"I'm also good at science."

Alphonse smiled and took another sip of tea, thinking Edward was just trying to brag.

"That's good; it's a handy subject to understand."

"It is," Edward agreed. "And, like my 'tea-making skill', I intend to use it for your benefit."

Al raised an eyebrow, "To my benefit?"

"Well," Ed explained. "There is this lab downtown that focuses on new inventors and scientific discoverers to help move the world forward technologically. Back when I lived here I used to go there every so often to offer my ideas… and they seemed to appreciate it. If I do something helpful they pay me for my work. Maybe I could start that up again and give you the profit?"

Alphonse stared at Edward incredulously, "I couldn't just take your money like that!"

Edward shook his head, "You wouldn't be. It would be like compensation for the hospitality you're offering me."

Alphonse looked torn. "Well, I don't know… I'd feel as if I was taking it from you."

"Well, how about half of the money I get you can use for the expenses I cost you? That way, I wouldn't feel like so much of a beggar."

Al shrugged, "I guess that would work..."

Before Alphonse could say anything else, Edward stood up.

"Good! Now if you excuse me, I've got an invention upstairs that is on the brink of being finished!"

Alphonse watched in amazement as Edward skipped up the stairs. He abandoned his tea to follow him and see just what was being made in his bedroom.

Author's Note: Well, I had thought that this book was unpopular, but I didn't really mind (I have finally come to terms with the fact that I'm not even planning on being a writer anyways and why do I ALWAYS feel like everything I do has to be well-liked?) but a recent trip to my abandoned email account has proven to me that, even when I'm not even active on this account, my stories and myself are getting favorited/watched like all the time. -.-;; So, thanks for the support, guys!