Disclaimer: FMA does not belong to me.

A DRUG TO KILL-

Drowning. Suffocating. Darkness creeping in around him blindly. He couldn't see or move or even think. He was suspended in this cold silent place, all alone.

Vaguely, he knew he started crying long ago, but he could never feel the tears.

Edward awoke, drenched in a cold sweat with wet tracks mysteriously curved down his face. He looked around briefly, taking in the bright sunlight that flowed through the open window.

He knew this place, recognized the smell of baking gingerbread, the hum of a boiling kettle, the crackling of a fireplace. This solace was comfortable, the one place he could escape to in his dreams. He remembered it very well, this place was home.

With slight difficulty Ed hauled himself up from the soft bed and left to wander the house. Alphonse was no where in sight, maybe he was at Winry's. But he couldn't think of a time when Al actually left to go someplace unaccompanied, unless…

His breath hitched in his throat. Unless today it was- The blonde's train of though roughly derailed and he gave a squeak. He had miscalculated his step while in such deep thought and rather gracefully tumbled down the stairs.

Luckily for Ed, he stopped at the bottom in a heap of pain and annoyance. When would he learn that working a normal leg was completely separate from an automail one?

The crashing and banging echoed through the house, making Edward huff. He had been planning to sneakily see what his mother was doing, to confirm his suspicions. So much for that.

As if on cue she rushed around the corner and helped him sit up. She realized that her son was a growing boy and that his body shape and size was changing (however slowly). But honestly, the boy could be such a klutz.

'Just like his father…'

Trisha sighed, "Edward I really wish you would be more careful." She methodically brushed off dust on his clothes that was not there. "One of these days you're going to end up breaking your leg if you keep this up."

Ed couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. With a single stroke she had hit the nail directly on its head. His stupidity and carelessness would cost him much more than a lost leg. Never mind what was taken from Al. He purposefully let his thinking drift off. Now was not the time to have a guilt attack.

His mother became a tad flabbergasted. Children didn't chuckle, they may laugh or giggle. But they never chuckled, especially not her son.

She straightened up, "Well Alphonse went to visit your Aunt Pinako's." Edward trembled briefly, he knew it. His first guess had been right. "He asked if he could wake you to go with him. But I-I would be happy if you were with me today," Trisha smiled shakily.

He nodded in understanding.

Every year he could recall the two of them had performed this simple ritual. Al had tried to understand the significance of it, yet he still was never here on this day.

Ed curled himself towards her side and she wrapped her arms around him. They sat on the porch swing decorating their deck, gazing at the bright blue sky. He knew his role. He provided the comfort for his mother to get through this day.

An old, hopelessly dried out ring of faded flowers hung on Trisha's neck, looking as though they may snap at any moment. She just did not have the heart to throw them out. Even after this many years.

Everyday, she hesitantly noticed how much her son looked like his father. His mannerisms, speeches on Alchemy, even the gold of his eyes and hair. Granted Ed had more of a violent temper, but she suspected that wouldn't change. His chuckle earlier forced her to realize just how fast the change was happening.

Trisha buried her nose in her boy's small head of hair, and once she smelt the familiar scent of cinnamon she burst into tears. Her frame shook and he awkwardly patted her back, which only seemed to worsen the situation.

As Edward tore his gaze away from his grieving mother, he noticed a tall shadow in the distance. However, it disappeared so quickly that it made him wonder if he had imagined it.

Near outstretches of their home lay a freshly transmuted ring of pink flowers, petals blowing in the soft wind. They smelled of cinnamon.

The Full Metal Alchemist dreaded the day of his parent's anniversary.


The boy shifted over onto his side and curled closer to the body next to him. He found it strange that Al was suddenly so much bigger than he. The cursed half inch his little brother had on him hardly could be this great. Then again, being larger did consequently make him warmer.

Ed grumbled, snuggling into a strong neck and inhaling the intoxicating scent there. It smelled like cologne.

Cologne…? What the-?

Alphonse didn't wear that stuff, did he?

Suspiciously, the blonde peered up at the body enclosed on his.

Laying there was an old man. And -god- he didn't have any clothes on!

It was then that Edward Elric, proud boy of nearly ten, screamed slightly like a girl. He fell over off of the bed and crab walked backwards until his back slammed into the wall adjacent of the bed. His… bare back.

He promptly yelled again in embarrassment, ripping off the curtain above his head to cover his more private parts.

As Mustang slowly woke up from all of the ruckus and shouting he heard a near hyperventilating voice scream. "You sick pedophile of a bastard! You DIRTY old man! How disgusting can you be, taking advantage of sleeping people?"

Roy blinked in confusion. What the hell was going on? He nearly prayed then to someone that this was all a big, ugly dream.


AN: Hope you likey. I made a decision between studying for my finals and writing this, but guess what won? Thank you for the support and comments so far.