Theme: #49: 青空の上に　(Above that blue sky)

Rating: G

Genre: Romance/Sap/Fluff/slight Angst

Timeline: Post Bluebird's Illusion (Veggie!Ed Ending) AlxSheska. Onesided EdxSheska.

Words: 1,988

Note: This is a challenge fic that had to include the words: hair, wind, and glove. Companion to Theme 2: "Library"

Edward's gloves always sat in the table centerpiece, as if in memory of the brother Alphonse had lost that day. Al would have put the hair elastics there too, but he decided that they were best kept in his box of 'special things' that sat next to the pictures on the mantelpiece. The kitten eraser that Sheska had given him was in there too, but everytime Al thought about that particular incident a crimson blush would spread across his face.

It was a long and confusing story as to how he and Sheska ended up living together; Al wasn't exactly sure how it had come to be himself. To him, it seemed like one moment he was alone, taking care of Ed like he had been for the past two years after that 'incident' occurred, and then Sheska was living with him, fussing over the elder Elric like it was second nature.

He wasn't going to lie and say that he didn't appreciate the company. In those two years, Ed could do normal bodily functions (get up, sit down, go to the bathroom, eat, sleep…that sort of thing), and talk occasionally, but he was far from who he used to be. His sentences were still one word answers, and he was hardly the person that he was…he would still take a bit of work until he worked up to that point (Al wasn't about to give up hope on his brother's recovery…if he could transmute a soul into a body, then damn it, he could get over this and get back to normal, too!). Talking to someone, especially someone who he had ended up falling hopelessly in love with years ago, was a blessing more than he could bear sometimes. He couldn't bring himself to talk to Winry—it was too painful to tell the one person who loved Ed more than he did that his brother turned into a walking vegetable—and his cats could only do so much for his loneliness. And the money that Sheska had brought in from the books that she wrote was one of the only things keeping the roof over their heads, which Al was also grateful for.

But three more years had passed since then…and of course, two people who lived together could only stay 'just friends' for so long.

One could say that Al's life changed when she came knocking on his door…

"Al!"

Alphonse stopped his current train of thought, looking up from the towel he was folding and craned his neck towards the hall leading to the study.

"Yeah?"

"Can you get Ed up today? I'm sorry—my hands are pretty full."

"All right."

Plenty of things have changed since she came…including Edward's state of recovery.

"Recovery" wasn't even the beginning of what had occurred within that golden-eyed youth that was under Al's loving care; it was almost blinding how quickly he had responded to everyday things…it was almost as if he was really trying to get back to normal. He'd struggle over words, try to form coherent sentences, and even called Al by his name. He'd also smile more often, much to Al's inner delight.

Not just that…but…in the second year after Sheska came…

Al sighed, rapping on the door leading to Ed's bedroom with the customary bucket of water held in his free hand, in case his brother was a little too 'sleepy' that morning.

"Brother? Ed? Are you awake?"

Grumbling was heard on the other side of the door, which caused a smile to appear on Al's face.

"I'm coming in," he said.

The door was pushed open, the room only lit from the rays of light coming from the window next to Ed's bed. It was summer, so there was only a single light blanket on the bed, and as expected it was thrown off in a hurry the second the subject in question heard the door creak open.

Alphonse Elric never thought he'd see the day when his older brother would shoot up in bed, give him that grumpy half-glare and spit some spare blond hair out of his mouth with tired indignance…well, not again, anyway.

"I see you're awake now." Al said with a laugh.

"Sh'up." Was the response he got. "Dint get much sleep."

"And whose fault was that? Silly Brother. I told you not to go through Sheska's books again. You're only starting to get used to reading long-term—don't overdo it, okay?"

"M'fine." Ed said with a growl. "Gotta get used to it sometime."

"Well, you're definitely not going to get used to anything if you end up exhausting yourself. In any case, I'll make you breakfast. Can you walk? I know you've been able to walk for the past few years now, but you still don't seem to be getting any of your old strength back in your good leg."

Ed let out a yawn, stretching his arms and letting the reddish nightshirt ride up a bit, showing the tiniest bit of stomach.

"I can lean on my automail. I don't need you helping me all the time, you know? You've done enough for me…and I didn't even do anything for you, Al."

"You really don't remember what happened back then, do you?"

"I keep telling you that I don't. Maybe it's because of the accident—it gave me a memory block that just needs a bit of a push to trigger it."

Ed swung his legs over the bed, only to stumble a little bit as he tried to stand. Al moved forward, as if to steady him, but Ed raised his good hand, shaking his head, before he started to regain balance. It was shaky, but it was there. His flesh leg trembled considerably, as if it was going to collapse any moment, but as Ed had said, he leaned against his automail for his support, creating a 'balance' that would probably only last until he reached the kitchen.

Yes: in the second year after Sheska came, Ed had started forming coherent sentences again, talking like he used to. He wasn't able to read or write—he had to relearn all of that—but he had figured that out over time, but his handwriting was still childlike, and though his reading comprehension had increased almost to his former capacity, it was sometimes hard for him to remember just what it was that he had read…especially if the book was particularly thick or complex. But Edward was a voracious reader, and his reading habit was so insatiable that sometimes Sheska would move him into her study and let him read her latest manuscript as she finished pages. They were usually fantasy or historical novels, but Ed didn't seem to mind one bit.

"Brother, are you sure you're all right?"

"Al," Ed whined, "I said I'm fine. You don't have to keep babying me like this."

"Sorry. I just worry."

"You've always been a worrier, Al."

"But it keeps you out of trouble, doesn't it?"

"…"

Despite Ed's rather verbal protests, Al helped him to a seat at the dining table, pushing the chair in as he walked towards the kitchen, bustling about with a tune on his lips. It was always fun to cook, especially when it was for the ones you cared about most… Just the thought of Ed or Sheska smiling and approving of his culinary skills made the insides of Al's stomach warm with pride, and he always felt a sense of accomplishment whenever he would look at his impeccably clean house.

He had always blushed whenever Ed had told him that he was on his way to becoming a 'family man'…but with the way life had been, he couldn't have been closer to the truth. The only things that were needed were a few little bundles of joy, tottering around the room, with laughter ringing in the air…

He had to stop with that, or else his mind would go to the thoughts of how he and Sheska were going to create said bundles of joy; he didn't want to have to run into the bathroom and relieve himself while he was in the middle of cooking…he didn't think he'd be able to live past the embarrassment…

"Hey…Al?"

Al glanced up from the eggs that were cooking on the stove, silvery eyes moving towards his brother.
"Yeah?"

"No…it's nothing."

Al hated it when he heard that…it reminded him too much of when he was still armor…when his brother did nothing but hide things from him to keep him in the dark. But he wasn't about to push anything…besides, it was best if his brother didn't remember anything. There would be much less pain, and there would be room for much happier memories, as well as less guilt.

A guiltless Edward made for a very, very happy Alphonse.

"Brother…if you're upset about something, you know you can tell me, right? Sheska, too. No matter what it is, we'll listen to you."

"Yeah…Yeah, I know, Al."

He just sighed, putting his head on his chin, eyes moving down towards the table. Edward's legs crossed under the chair, and his hair started to spill over his shoulders and down his back.

His eyes were dim…softly glowing pieces of amber, flickering in the morning sunlight.

What was he thinking about?

"Hey Al…" He could barely hear him mumble. "You and Sheska…you're going to get married, right?"

…Al nearly burned himself. His hand had slipped and nearly dropped the skillet, and his palm was merely centimeters away from landing, hard onto the burner—at least the Aloe Vera plant by the windowsill didn't have to be butchered for another day. The last one had been rendered useless after Ed tried his hand at cooking two weeks ago, and Al hoped to keep this plant a bit longer this time.

"I-I-I…I…d-don't…" God, he couldn't even face him. His heart was racing in his chest, and his face had to be so red that even strawberries or tomatoes couldn't compare to the color!

Where had that come from?!

"Well, you'd better." A pause…and then something smaller…quieter, something he could barely hear:

"Or else I might just have to try my luck."

WHAT?!

"…Brother?"

"N-Nothing."

…What did he mean by that?

Al put the eggs on a plate, arranging the food as they were meant to be, though Al felt his cheeks still singe at his brother's earlier comment. Marriage…he hadn't even thought about it. He was too busy taking care of Sheska and his brother, and the house. He didn't have time to think about something so small…he'd like to…but…

He didn't want to get married when Ed was still alone.

Living like her like this as a lover was good enough for him at the moment, anyway.

"Al?"

Al turned, blinking.
"Yes, Brother?"

"…think we could eat outside?"

Al frowned. "You're not going to try training when your body is still trying to get used to walking, are you? You should take it easy."

A scowl was his response. A deep, typical Edward scowl. "What? Can't a guy just want to go outside and get some fresh air for a change? It's stuffy in here."

"Well, why don't we eat inside, and we just all spend some time outside together. It'll be nice to feel the wind on your face, huh Brother? Maybe you can even look up and give thanks for a change."

"…There's no such thing as God, Al."

"You never know. There might just be something up above that blue sky…something that we can't explain."

"Yeah, yeah…whatever. Let's just eat, and then get the hell out of here."

It was so good to have him back…at least a little. To have the brother back that he had grown up with…with no alchemy, no problems…no grand plans or homunculi or war…

And Al smiled.

A large…true, happy smile.

"All right Brother." He said softly. "All right."