A/N: Oh, boy I almost forgot about this story. (slaps herself on the hand, bad empress, bad, bad empress) lol. Well, I do hope you all will forgive me for my inexcusable tardiness for this chapter. Believe me it was not on purpose. Well, I do hope you all enjoy…

Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist mine? What planet are you from? Ha ha ha…

Chapter 8: Trusting Me, Loving Me.

Edward leaned back against the rock hard bed and groaned, "Man when they tell you it's dangerous to rock the boat, they aren't kidding." He glanced over to see his brother leaning against the wall sound asleep with his book in his lap, "Oh, what am I going to do with you?" he murmured as he sat up and carefully picked the sleeping form of his brother into his arms. Alphonse must have been exhausted because he didn't even stir. Edward wasn't surprised. They had literally rushed to the dock the day before.

"Alphonse, what time is it?"

Alphonse rolled over and jumped out well actually fell out of bed, literally, "Ow1 Oh damn it, Ed we have to go we've only got 5 minutes to get to the dock!"

Edward too leaped out of bed and in a flash the two brothers were literally tearing down the streets causing every single person standing outside to glance in their direction. Everyone had said there was something odd about those boys and this was going to add to the rumors.

"Ed why didn't you set you your alarm?" Alphonse asked clearly irritated. Edward knew Alphonse hated running now. Just because he had spent nearly 5 years in a suit of armor that kept him from becoming exhausted, didn't mean he was invincible now.

"Don't blame me. You're the one who wanted to lay down and cuddle." Edward shot back just as annoyed.

Alphonse but his lip as he kept running. Thanks to their determination to get there, the two of them managed to make it to the dock just as the last call for boarding of the ship was being announced.

"Ah, I see you two made it." Fritz said pushing his eyeglass higher. He then felt the tension heating off the two brothers, "Tsk, tsk, tsk… Oh dear, this doesn't look good. Are you sure the two of you are ready for something like this?"

"Look we're here aren't we. Let's just get this trip on the road, or waves or whatever." Alphonse muttered, "Can we got to our cabins right away? I think I need to lay down."

Fritz scratched his head in confusion as he glanced over at Edward. However the blonde was looking off in a different direction, almost as if he was distracted by something, "Edward, might we go to the cabins?"

Edward snapped out of his trance and turned around, "Oh yes of course." He flung his ponytail back behind his shoulder and followed his traveling companions downstairs.

"So my boy who or what were you looking at?" Fritz asked under his breath.

"Oh, I thought I saw Noa on the dock. I haven't seen her since, Alphonse's funeral." Edward explained.

"You seemed to be quite taken with that young woman. Although she's a gypsy, she is quite a beauty." Fritz chuckled.

"Oh no its nothing like that. Noa and are just friends." Edward waved his hands up in defense, "But she is a very beautiful young woman. If Alphonse Heidrech had survived I'm sure they would have been an attractive couple."

"Ah, well that's all in the past and I'm sure she will find someone. But as long as she has you for a friend that's something right?" Fritz added.

"Yeah I guess. Oh it this it?" Edward asked.

"Ah, yes, now there is two bunks to a room so you and your brother will share." Fritz explained, "Oh and if you can don't kill one another until after the trip is over. This is supposed to be a happy time."

Edward chuckled, "Well that all depends on how childish my brother wants to be."

Alphosne turned and glared at Edward before throwing his suitcase to the side and lying down on the provided bed his back facing his fellow travelers.

"I uh think you might want to give your brother a chance to get some rest." Fritz whispered, "Come let us take a tour of the ship."

Edward threw his own suitcase next to the back wall and sighed, "I guess." He followed Fritz out the door and the two of them began the journey though the Sustania, "So who's the captain of this ship?"

"That would be him." Another passenger pointed out.

Edward glanced over and stepped back, "Ok, I'm seeing things."

"My friends welcome to the Sustania the best ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean. We have the best food the best rooms, the best service, and if I may say so, the best looking captain."

"Don't tell me that's Captain Armstrong." Edward chanced.

"Uh yes, that's Captain Armstrong, how did you know?" Fritz asked confused.

"Oh, well, there's a man back in Shamballa who acts talks and even looks the same as this guy and his name is Armstrong." Edward hurriedly explained.

"Ah well, why don't you go and meet the guy. It's not everyday a passenger gets to personally talk to the captain." Fritz said gently pushing Edward towards the wheelhouse.

Edward stepped forward, "Uh, nice wind we have uh captain."

"Ah, a strapping young lad, but I see you have not been drinking your milk." Armstrong pointed out.

Just the mentioning of the word milk almost made Edward become seasick, "Oh, uh, I'm allergic." He fibbed. In a way he was.

"Oh well that's too bad. You need to put more muscle on those scrawny arms of yours." Armstrong instructed, "Ahem, well my boy, what is it I can do for you."

Edward stepped forward, "Well the thing is I need a favor. Are we making any stops on our way to America?"

"Why yes, we need to make a stop in England to pick up another crew of passengers." Armstrong said, "Why what seems to be the trouble?"

"Oh, well you see I kind of had a fight with my brother and I want to get him something to say I'm sorry. There's a book he's been wanting for the longest time and I'm hoping I might find it in England." Edward explained.

"Ah, well we will be in England for most of tomorrow if the water stays on our side, so you should have some time to search. We are to dock in Sarborough sometime tomorrow morning." Armstrong assured him, "Now why don't you enjoy the rest of the day, and I do hope you and your brother return to good terms."

Edward chuckled, "Yeah me too."

"Oh before you go, what's your name lad?" Armstrong questioned.

"Edward, captain, Edward Elric, my brother's name is Alphonse." Edward responded.

"Edward and Alphonse, you must be quite the pair." Armstrong pointed out.

"You have no idea," Edward muttered under his breath so the captain couldn't hear him, "Well I must be going, it was a pleasure meeting you and I do hope I find that book tomorrow."

"Thank you Edward Elric and enjoy your stay on the Sustania!"

Edard chuckled as he walked out of the wheelhouse and back over to Fritz who was leaning over the side.

"So, how did it go, waht did you say?" Fritz asked.

"Oh he said we are making a stop in England tomorrow to pick up a few more passengers and whatnot." Edward explained.

Fritz looked at Edward with a frown plastered on his face, "It that all?"

Edward looked at Fritz with a deadpanned expression, "What you just told me to go over there and talk to him. You didn't say anything about asking him questions."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Well, it's getting soon to be lunch time, why don't you go and fetch your brother and I will meet you two in the dinning hall in about 30 minutes." Fritz suggested.

Edward nodded as his stomach did a sudden gurgle, "Good thing too, I just realize I'm getting a bit hungry."

"All right I' will see you two soon."

Edward nodded as he headed back down into the cabin area. He walked into the room to find Alphonse sitting up hunched over a bunch of papers. Some were scattered across his bunk and some crinkled up into little balls and thrown on the floor.

"Uh, um, what?" Alphonse started.

"I'm just here to tell, you dinner will be served in the dining room in about 30 minutes." Edward spoke in a blank tone.

"Oh ok." Alphonse said settling down.

The tension in the room was starting to grow thicker. That is until Edward sat down, "So, not that it's any of my business, but what are you working on?"

"You're right, it is none of your business." Alphonse spoke quietly.

Edward stood up and glanced out the cabin window. All he saw was the ocean, "Well, I will leave you to your business." He said quietly as he walked back out of the room, stopping just in time to hear a faint sob coming in from inside the cabin. Instinct over took him and he opened the door again. His excuse? He forgot his coat. But then he realized he was still wearing his coat so there he stood looking down at his brother who was now crying his eyes out, "Alphonse?"

"Tell me the truth Edward. Do you really truly love me?" Alphonse asked right out in the open.

Edward stepped back. Almost as if the forced of the question was meant to knock him to the ground, "Alphonse how could you asked me something like that? I thought I made it clear to you how much you mean to me."

Alphonse sniffled as he looked away, "Then why do you keep looking at other girls the way you do? I saw the way you looked at Noa. I mean if you think you'll be happier with her than with me, fine. But the least you could do is let me know first before you go sneaking around behind my back."

Edward gasped, "What in the hell are you talking about?"

"I didn't tell you but a few nights ago I have watched you sleep, and you've cried out Noa's name in your sleep. And this morning you did it again." Alphonse confessed.

"Oh, oh, is that's what's bothering you? I guess I should have told you. You see I was having a nightmare. Before you came to Shamballa Noa and I found ourselves in the middle of a fight in an alleyway. Thanks to her being a gypsy, Noa became an automatic target and she nearly was killed. I managed to save her but that day still comes back to haunt me. Alphonse, Noa is a friend and nothing more. Hell I see her more as an older sister than anything. Alphonse, you're only one I've ever allowed to enter my heart, well besides Mom of course."

Alphonse sniffled, "You, you really mean that Ed?"

"Hey if I didn't would I do this?" Edward leaned over and gently placed his lips against his non-expecting brother's.

Without hesitation Alphonse returned the embrace but pulled his brother closer to him. His stack of written documents placed to the side. The two of them stayed together for the longest time. The only thing that pulled them apart was the sound of the dinner bell, as well as Edward stomach grumbling.

"Heh, looks like dinner's ready." Alphonse said, "And looks like someone hungry." His face grew dark red when his stomach did a bit of grumbling of it's own.

"Looks like I'm not the only one." Edward pointed out, "Come on, let's get going."

The dinner was delicious and the next morning Edward had managed to find the book his brother had been wishing for, for the longest time.

Edward watched his brother snoring lightly, his breath causing his cinnamon brown bangs to lightly flutter and he took his hand into his own, "I love you." He whispered as he kissed his brother's hand, "And I always will…." He promised.

A/N: Ah ok, I would say that would make up for the past few months absence. Please review if you want me to keep this going. Otherwise I see no point in continuing. Thank you.