An apple a day sends the doctor away.

Apple in the morning doctor's warning

Roast apple at night starves the doctor outright

Eat an apple going to bed knock the doctor in the head

Three each day, seven days a week

Ruddy apple, ruddy cheek


"Ha…c, go…doc…"

"…, sir…"

The excited, muffled beeping beside his head became more frantic.

"…ward, …hear me? It's…open your eyes…"

His hearing was getting better, but that didn't help his current confusion. He was missing the name and where in the hellwas he?

He shifted and everything hurt. He wanted to cry; he wanted to scream, but nothing was coming out. His body was too weak to do anything.

"Mmggghhh…"

Who could be groaning? He was the one in pain! A whimper and he realized that the painful keening was coming from him.

"Come now, Edward, open your eyes. I know it hurts, but it'll be over soon."

Who? Edward's brow furrowed at the thought.

A rough hand touched his forehead briefly before pulling away. Ed's brow relaxed before pale eyelids revealed golden irises.

The face above Edward's was pale with worry and Mustang's forehead showed unfamiliar frown lines. It couldn't be Mustang; Mustang never worried, but who else had those slanted black eyes and midnight hair?

"…Bastard…?" came the whispered question.

Mustang's frown lines deepened as he leaned over Edward further. The Fuhrer had never heard Edward sound so weak or unsure of himself; Roy wondered if Edward was having trouble with his eyesight.

"It's me… I'm right here."

Edward squinted and wrinkled his nose. "I see," his voice cracked, "move back a little. You're making me cross-eyed."

Mustang smirked-that's the Edward everyone knew.

"Are you feeling better? I think you were having a nightmare…"

"'m fine… You know, you…you shouldn't worry so much. It doesn't suit you."

Mustang chuckled a bit. "Of course. I'll try not to worry so much in the future as long as you stop sticking yourself in the hospital."

"That's not fair and you know it, Fuhrer Bastard."

Said Fuhrer shrugged and smirked. "Equivalent Exchange," he said while raising his hands in innocent surrender.

"I promise you nothing—" The blond looked as if he was about to say more, but a horrid cough stifled anymore attempts at speaking. Mustang's frown returned as he rushed to the table for some water and a wet cloth. He was beginning to wonder where Havoc had gone to find the doctor-it was taking them quite a bit of time to return. A choking cough disrupted Roy from his frustrated musings on where Havoc and the doctor were and he gently began wiping at Edward's forehead and cheeks with washcloth and rubbing Edward's flesh shoulder with his free hand. The coughing had taken both of Edward's hands from Roy's comforting hold that he had been holding since Edward had woken (The Fuhrer assumed Edward hadn't noticed).

The coughing eventually died down and Edward was left gasping for air and spittle covered hands…spittle covered hands that neither of the men in the room wanted to believe were tinted red. Roy quickly wiped away any traces of the fit from Edward's hands and mouth as Edward struggled to regain his breath.

"That's it!" Roy declared as he stood straight up and scowled. "I'm going to get your doctor myself! This is ridiculous!"

Edward's watery eyes stared at him and pinned him to the spot as if he was telling the Fuhrer to stay. Edward shook his head and closed his eyes. "…stay…"

The Fuhrer clenched his hands into fists until they were bloodless and moved back towards the bed and sat down in the chair conveniently placed for visitors. "Rest, then. I'll be here when you wake up."

Edward nodded with eyes still closed and it was then that Roy noticed the uneven beeping of the heart monitor. He regretted telling the younger man to rest and the beeps faltered more and more, but he couldn't push himself to wake him or stand from his seat to find the doctor that the man desperately needed.

"S-sir! I found him!" Havoc stood gasping in the doorway with a feeble old man dressed in a white coat behind him.

Roy was about speak, perhaps—his body seemed to be failing him just like Edward's heart was when the beeping became a long monotone squeal. The old doctor rushed toward his patient and Havoc ran down the hall and immediately came back with four nurses who ushered the Fuhrer and Havoc out of the room.

The Fuhrer was pushed into a chair by Havoc and his silence spoke volumes to everyone in the waiting room.

There was something horribly wrong with the People's Alchemist—the Hero of the People… If he falls, who will save the world?


There's a young boy with golden hair tied in a braid standing atop a mountain with a shining suit of armor standing beside him. His hair whips about his tan face and hides his radiant golden eyes from the view of the world. He's strong and the pride and glory of the small town he hailed from… He's a dreamer and he's dreaming of how to reach his brother's body.

He's a man now and he stands alone on top of the hill. He's watching a boy run around the valley with his friends and the creatures he always loved.

He's still young, but he has nothing more to do with his life now that he's accomplished his goal and lived—he never expected to live after returning his brother's body. All he can think about was back when he was just a kid…

When he was young, long before their father abandoned the family, he was happy. A normal boy with a normal family with nothing to tear them apart. They would go on trips to the market and the fields near their home.

"Mama, how much farther? I'm tired."

"Not fair, dear. Do you want Papa to carry you?"

"Nu-uh, I can walk."

The mother and father smiled at each other and the boy was suddenly lifted into the air.

"Whoosh! Now you're a bird and you can fly!" The father held his son high in the air and spun him before bringing him back down to his chest to hug his beloved eldest son. The boy giggled and looked to his brother in his mother's arms.

"Al, don't you want to fly?"

"No."

"Aw, why not?"

"…Don' like bein so high…"

The older brother frowned, and then smiled. "I'll fly for you!"

"'Kay, Big Bwuder."


He was dying; he was sure of it. That's why it was black all around and there was nothing to feel and his heart wasn't beating and he wasn't breathing. True death, he assumed this was, much better than all the near death experiences he'd had.

"Edward…" He shivered. That voice shouldn't be here-that person shouldn't want to speak to him.

"It's okay, Edward. You've worked hard… You're very tired, aren't you?" Someone touched his cheek and it wasn't so dark anymore. Suddenly he was on his back and the sun was shining down on him.

Something was cradling him and hands were running through his hair. He whimpered and the voice was back. Sweet, melodic, and it pulled him into unconsciousness.

"Edward, sweetie, as much as I'd love to have you back; people still need you. You're not done yet."

Edward's eyes shot open at the words and he looked up into his mother's gentle green eyes.

"I'm tired. Can't I sleep?"

"Not yet."

"Why not?"

"I told you… You're not done. And won't Alphonse miss you if you leave now?"

Edward sighed and closed his eyes. "Fine… How do I get back?"

"Stand up and walk up the hill. If you can get to the top of the hill, then you can go home."

"We're in the valley?"

"Yes," his mother answered before slipping away from him. His eyes opened and he stood, facing away from her. "You'll be here when I come back, won't you?"

"Of course."

"And then we can wait for Alphonse and everyone else here?"

"Yes," and the smile was in her voice. She knew who he wanted to wait for.

"'Kay. I'm going now," he said as he started his way up the mountain.

"I'll see you," she whispered and then she was gone as Edward climbed. I'm coming…

How many miles to Babylon?

Three score and ten.

Can I get there by candlelight?

Aye, and back again.

If your feet are nimble and light,

You'll get there by candlelight.

"Fuhrer, sir, Mr. Elric is stable… You can go see him if you wish to."

As the most powerful man in Amestris turned his eyes onto the doctor, the doctor squirmed away. "I would like to speak with you later, Doctor. I want to know why it took so long for my Colonel to find you."

The man spluttered, but no words came from his mouth until after the Fuhrer brushed by him. "Yes, sir," he answered in a groan.

"Hey, Edward, today's been a rough day for you, hasn't it?" The Fuhrer pet Edward's head before lowering himself into a seat. "I'm sorry; I should have gotten you to quit the military once you got your brother's body back. I had Havoc call him this morning. He should be in Central by tomorrow morning. I'll go to the train station to pick him up personally." The Fuhrer snorted. "Why am I telling you this now? You can't even hear me…" The Fuhrer let out a near hysterical chuckle that sounded wet with barely restrained tears. "Please, wake up."

There was a knock on the door and Roy turned to face Hawkeye. "How's he doing?"

"The doctor said he was stable, but he hasn't woken up yet." The Fuhrer let out a shaky breath before continuing. "He was doing better, Riza, but then he started coughing and I told him to go sleep and then everything went wrong… I thought he was gone… I'd thought we'd lost him, Riza…"

Riza came closer and dropped her strong façade just as Roy had. "He'll wake up, he's stronger than that," she said as she laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"Hmph, I hope you're right, Hawkeye. Mustang straightened his back and cleared his face of any traces of the worry he held deep within his chest. "Stay with him. I need to speak to his doctor for a few minutes. I'll be back soon."

"Yes, sir."

"Please alert me if anything changes."

"Yes, sir."

And with that, Fuhrer Mustang swept out of the room, fully intent on giving Edward's doctor a piece of his mind.

"Fuhrer, sir, I'm terribly sorry, but I was on my break and you have to understand that I was up all night and I was sleeping in the break room."

The Fuhrer stood straight-backed in the office of the doctor. "I do understand that you were tired, but it seems that you decided to hide… It was far too hard for the Colonel to find you earlier."

"S-s-sir… I would never purposefully evade your call or t-t-the call of my patients. Please, forgive me. It won't happen again."

"You're right; it won't happen again. The Head of the Hospital will be speaking to you soon. He is not happy that the Hero of the People almost lost his life because his physician could not be found.

The doctor hung his head in shame and sighed. "Sir, please tell the boy I am sorry. I wish his recovery well…"

The Fuhrer nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. He wasn't very happy with what he'd done, but it had to be done. Edward, the People's Alchemist for God's sake, had almost lost his life. The Fuhrer relaxed against the wall next to the office and sighed.

"Sir? Are you alright," a passing nurse asked.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired," he said, bringing his hands up to his face and running them through his hair.

"I'm sure we could get a cot to put in Mr. Elric's room for you, sir."

"That's not necessary. I believe I'll be going home for the day, but you could ask the young woman who is visiting him now if she would like the cot. I believe she'll be staying the night."

"Yes, sir." The nurse went down the hallway towards Edward's room and the Fuhrer followed. He would say goodbye to Riza and Edward before he left. As Roy entered the room the nurse was leaving, on her way to retrieve a cot.

"Any change?"

"No, but be patient. How did your meeting go?"

"He'll be leaving soon…"

"Ah, well, perhaps they'll find someone more competent."

"Hopefully. I see you're spending the night…"

"Yes."

"Will you be okay here by yourself?"

"I'm confident that he'll wake up during the night and I don't want him to be alone."

Roy smiled. "With that blonde hair of yours and those strange eyes, the nurses will probably think you're his mother… You'd like that, though, wouldn't you?"

Riza turned to look at Roy. "I love him as a son, I will not lie, but I would like it if you didn't make fun of me for it. You consider him your son, too."

Roy smiled and walked over to the blonds. He ruffled Edward's hair and placed his forehead against Edward's. "Wake up soon. We're all waiting for you to open your eyes, kiddo. Heaven can't have you yet."

Roy lifted his head and put a hand on Riza's shoulder before squeezing.

"Try to get some sleep, have them call me if he gets worse or wakes up. I'll be back in the morning if there are no calls."

"Alright. Good night, Roy."

"Good night, Riza." Roy turned and left the room. It would be a long night.

BRRRRIIING BRRRIIING! BRRIIIING BRRRIIING!

"Who in God's name could be calling at such an unearthly hour," Roy seethed before gasping and grabbing for the phone in the dark room. Of course something went wrong at the hospital… Edward can't get a break!

"Hello?"

"Fuhrer, sir, the General told me to inform you if there were any changes in Mr. Elric's condition. He's awake at the moment, but he hasn't started speaking yet."

Roy put a hand to his hand and smiled. Thank God. "Thank you, Miss. I'll be there in twenty minutes. By the way, what time is it?"

"Three o'clock in the morning, sir."

"Thank you. Good bye, then."

A hand on her shoulder startled Riza as she sat at Edward's bedside, tightly gripping his flesh hand.

"Riza… How's he doing? The nurse told me he was awake."

"He was. He's been drifting in and out of consciousness since the nurse called. I'm sure he'll wake up soon."

A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating in so long!!! How long has it been-a year or more?!

It's been a horribly busy year and few months, please forgive me!

I didn't have a beta for this chapter; she's leading the very busy life as well… :( Eventually, I'm going to go back and fix the mistakes in the earlier chapters—they're really bothering me now. :(

This chapter was inspired by Godchild (an amazing manga). It incorporates nursery rhymes into each chapter, and it totally got me hooked.

As always, thank you all for reading and I hope you review.