Cataglottism: French kissing, kissing using the tongue. That should give you a mega hint about this chapter, neh? Hehehe…

This was yet another section I had a too much fun writing. Silliness, romance, and the ever-persistent fluff awaits ye. The loveliness!

I'm going to have to cut my author commentaries short there, it's two in the morning where I am and I have to wake up kinda early tomorrow. So sorry to my lovely reviewers that I didn't get a chance to respond to! (Bows frantically in apology.)

There is a certain art to kissing.

And those who say otherwise have probably never had a really good kiss before. It takes practice, patience, and maybe even a bit of luck to be able to kiss really, really well. That of which I've yet to achieve, but I'm working on it.

At first kissing was, or, I guess the proper term would be making out... yes, making out was a very weird experience, at the start. Honesty for a while I couldn't decide if I really liked it or not, but then again I was so focused on doing everything right that I didn't have enough thought process left to actually enjoy it. But when I started to get "better," I could actually sit back and like it, without my mind worrying itself in a million directions.

Of course, Brother was the kind of person to pick the whole thing up instantly. Trust me, he's the really, really good kissing type. One small peck on the lips and I turn into putty. Darn him and his quick learning abilities, it figures huh?

So with him being the, how shall I say, dominant figure in our relationship, I'd feel awkward about confiding my kissing insecurities. Specifically whether he thought I was good at it or not. I don't say anything mostly for the fear of being mocked but, maybe I could count on him to be a little understanding. It's weird, he's been a perfect gentleman in… that department, ever since we've started this serious relationship. I know for a fact he would never, ever, ever do anything I didn't want to do. Our passion has never gone below the waistline, so to speak. Besides, we're still very young, there's plenty of time for that later.

But we amuse ourselves with other things. Sometimes when we're…um…kissing, see, right after he's taken a shower and he still has his hair down, if he leans over me just right his hair falls over both our faces. It gets into my eyes and my mouth, tasting like shampoo and silk. It's a curtain, I like to think, a protective curtain that keeps our little secret safe from the world, that keeps us securely fastened together and others from getting in. Kinda silly…

One night I irrationally blabbed the whole hair thing all out to Brother, but to my amazement he didn't laugh at me. He just said "hmm" in his lazy, satisfied voice and continued the kissing. However, after that I knew he made an extra effort to fiddle with his hair, or be brushing it or something, anytime I was around. Oohh, he's such a tease sometimes! He knows it drives me nuts, it's always soft and smells so nice… slides through your fingertips like water, and sweeps across in all the perfect places.

"Al?"

It gives goose bumps when it touches your skin, and yet it manages to still be so warm, and…. and…

"Alphonse, you okay?"

"Hmm…?" I asked dreamily.

"You've been starring at the top of my head for the past twenty minutes." He smiled coyly, "What? You want me to do something?"

"N-no! What would give you that idea?"

He rolled his eyes. "No reason…"

"Don't you have work to do Brother?"

"Now you're trying to get rid of me? I'm so hurt!"

I chunked a couch pillow at him. "I'm serious! Your deadline's coming up real soon!"

"Yeah yeah, very well, I'm leaving see? You can go back to your weird fantasy, fetish, whatever now, yeesh."

"I was not….!"

"Later Al!" He slammed the basement door behind him.

Presumptuous little… who am I kidding? I can't trust him to be sensitive about anything! I just won't talk to him about the insecurity business, I don't need another reason for him to taunt me. I shall be the proverbial closed vault.

I grabbed Brother by his shoulders and pushed him up from me, our mouths breaking contact. With my first gulp of air I blurted, "Brother am I a good kisser!"

"Hu…huh? What?" he asked, looking dazed.

"Um, um, I just wanted to, uh, ask if you thought I was…good at…kissing…"

"Eh? You're fine at kissing Al. What? Is that why you've been so skittish lately?"

"Um…kind of…"

"Trust me Al, if you were lousy at it I would say something."

I sighed. "Should've figured…"

His expression above me softened. "Don't take it the wrong way," he said, brushing a metal hand across my face, "I just know you'd want me to be honest, right?"

"Yes, honest, of course…"

There was an awkward pause. "Um, sorry Brother, guess I kinda killed the mood, didn't I?"

He grinned. "Not necessarily…"

He bent down again and nuzzled my neck, planting rough little kisses along my skin.

My insides shuttered but I managed to whisper, "Brother… careful, my blood seal…"

"I know, don't worry," he breathed, mouth moving back to mine. We continued where we left off, with the kissing and holding, until we said our goodnights and drifted to sleep.

"Brother!" I thundered from the bathroom, "Get in here this instant!"

He stumbled in still half asleep. "Hn… what is it Al?"

"What is the meaning of…of…this!" I demanded, pulling back my shirt and pointing at my skin.

"I don't see anything."

"Right there! Look, right there! And there…and there!"

"And here?"

"Yes!"

He scratched his head and squinted. "It looks like something bit your skin."

"Exactly," I hissed, "And who do you suppose did that Brother?"

"…oops."

I frowned. "Honestly, sometimes I think you have nonexistent self-control when it comes to stuff like this…"

I yanked back my collar even further and inspected my neck in the mirror. "I mean, how am I going to cover these up? Maybe I'll just wear my scarf all day…"

"Why bother? Who's going to see you?"

"I was planning to go over to Winry's house today… Shoot, I can't even do that! She'll ask all sorts of questions if I keep my scarf on inside. Wonderful…"

Brother laughed and looped his arms around my front. "Well it appears I've thwarted your plans once again, huh?"

"Yes. You did," I pouted.

"Aww, want me to make it up to you?"

"And get more of these? No thanks!"

"Now whose mind is in the gutter? It doesn't have to be something like that."

"Well what else did you have in mind?"

"I dunno I could…clean the dishes, make the bed, get the mail…hey I'll get the mail! I'll be right back!"

"But…"

He zipped out of the room and I heard the front door open and slam shut.

Well, it wasn't the most useful job I could've given him, or the most labor intensive, but I guess the mailbox is nearly half a mile down the road…

"Al…Al! Hey Al get out here! You're never going to believe this!"

What now? "Coming!" I called. Did something that exciting come in the mail? No, he couldn't have gotten there already, no matter how fast he was running.

"What is it Broth-"

I opened the door and beheld before me.

A shiny, brand new, flawless, state of the art…

Car.

A car?

"Brother this isn't…yours?"

"It is now!" he said triumphantly, "Isn't it great? No more walking or taking the train everywhere, no more traveling around in the freezing, stupid cold, we finally have mobility!"

"But Brother, how in the world did you afford this?"

"I didn't, check it out," he said, shoving a note into my hand.

Still stunned that…that there was car in front of me, I unfolded the paper and started to read.

Dear Fullmetal,

Oh dear.

Dear Fullmetal,

Happy late Birthday.

Get out of the house and enjoy yourself once in a while. It should be big enough for Al to fit in as well.

Sincerely,

Fuhrer Roy Mustang

P.S. I might be having a special assignment for you soon, so keep yourself available.

Roy, but of course. What a model Fuhrer, giving that kind of present to a short-tempered sixteen year old…

"It feels wrong saying this, but I think Mustang just went up a notch in my book. That puts him at notch number one of course, but who's counting? Ha! Guess it pays sometimes that you're on good terms with the most powerful guy in Amestris."

"But Brother," I urged desperately, "You can't drive!"

"Sure I can, look, Roy gave me a key and a nice official license…thing."

"No. Brother, you misunderstand me. You. Can't. Drive."

He frowned. "That's harsh Al. How hard can it be? C'mon, let's take it for a spin!"

"You mean actually get in that thing…and drive around."

"Sure!"

"Thank you, but no."

"Al, stop being such a wuss and get in!"

"Oh… fine I guess…"

Against my extreme better judgment, I opened the door and crawled next to him in the front seat. I buckled myself in tight, saying a half-hearted prayer, and closed my eyes as I heard the engine blast on.

"Al, you okay? You're awfully pale over there."

"Keep your eyes on the road Brother!" I gasped, gripping onto the seat for dear, dear life.

"Calm down, will ya? I'm not even going thirty, on a huge dirt road, in the middle of nowhere that is Rizenbool."

"But, but, there might be another car coming soon! Or you could drive into a ditch or hit a tree or… you could hit a cat! I wouldn't be able to look at you ever again if you hit a poor little kitty!"

"I'm not going to hit anything, animate or non."

I allowed some oxygen to enter my lungs. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Well, you said you wanted to go over to Winry's, right? You've got your scarf on, and we'll be over there in no time with this thing."

"I guess that's okay… but hey while we're out, if you promise to be careful…!"

"I'll be careful, I'll be careful…"

"Then could we take a quick detour to the market?"

"What for?"

"We're running low on food. Currently the only things we have for dinner are oranges and stale bread."

"Bleh, that sounds appetizing, why the shortage?"

"The last time we tried to go there? You slipped and broke your foot, remember?"

"I'd rather not actually. Okay, to the market we go, and try to relax for a change will ya Al?"

I glared at him, but felt my grip lessen on my seat.

I finished loading in the last bag and shut down the trunk.

"Well… I hate to admit it Brother, but we never could've carried this stuff home by ourselves."

"You see? This car is a thing of beauty, not to mention the most useful birthday present I've ever gotten."

My eyes narrowed. "Brother..." I began.

He glanced over. "What?"

"You know even though I probably couldn't have gotten you a car, I was still very much willing to get you a present when it was actually your birthday. Except you didn't want anything!"

"Oh… erm… yeah, guess I kinda forgot about that."

"Obviously."

"So I was in a bad mood for it this year, so what? What are you getting so worked up about anyway?"

I got into the passenger side and rather roughly shut the door.

He poked his nose through the open window. "You aren't… jealous, are you?"

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous of your fancy new toy? Something so nice and expensive that I never could've afforded to give you?"

"You are jealous. C'mon Al, I didn't say it was the absolute most favorite present I've ever gotten, I just said it was the most useful!"

When I said nothing he sighed and climbed into the driver's seat.

"Hey," he said, nudging my arm, "Remember my eighth birthday?"

"Vaguely. Why?"

"You saved up for two whole months to buy me the present I wanted, that huge, stuffed animal I saw in the shop. What was it? An elephant? Anyway, Mom thought it was too expensive but you bought it anyway. I tell you, no matter how much I bashed that thing around it didn't loose a single stitch. Now that was my favorite birthday present ever, hands down, much better than this hunk of metal."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better…" I mumbled, but couldn't help smiling.

"Maybe… is it working?"

"Almost."

He smirked and started up the car, I was still a little uneasy but decided to try and not worry. I heard it sputter to life and we were just about to drive away, but suddenly a woman came up and tapped on our window.

"Someone you know Brother?" I questioned.

"Nope, never seen her before."

"Well, let's roll down the window and see what she wants."

The window down, she warily leaned in and said, "Um… I'm terribly sorry to bother you but… my daughter was sick today and I had to take her to the doctor, but my husband had the car so we had to walk to the office. Our house is only a couple more miles down the road so, if it wasn't too much trouble, do you think you could… give us a ride back?"

Brother looked bewildered, but just as he was about to say something she added. "My daughter says she knows one of you."

I craned to look out the window and saw a small girl next to her, completely bundled up, nothing visible save her eyes and nose.

"Oh… oh! Brother, that's the little girl I met, the one Winry was babysitting? What was her…? Calli! You're Calli's mother?"

"Yes!" she said in a burst of relief, "Thank goodness, I didn't want to make Calli walk all the way back home… of course, if you can…?"

"Of course," I answered quickly, "Please get in."

Ed looked a little bothered. "What is it Brother?" I whispered as they climbed in the back.

"Alphonse, I'm not sure I can cart around a mother and her sick child!" he hissed, "I mean, I've been officially driving now for only half an hour!"

I glared and said, still keeping my voice down, "So you're okay with risking my life but when it comes to two complete strangers you get cold feet?"

"No! I just meant-"

"Is something wrong?" Calli's mom asked from the back.

I turned around. "No, of course not! My brother um… he's just worried that he won't be able to… to… find where you live!"

She gave me an odd look. "It won't be that hard to find. Just follow this road and I'll tell you when to turn."

Brother shook his head and finally started to drive.

I turned to Calli sitting next to her. "Hello Calli," I said cheerfully, "It's nice to see you again."

She just nodded. "Uh huh, hullo Alphonse. 'M sick you know."

"I heard," I said sympathetically.

"It kinda stinks, but it's worth it if I get to miss school."

I laughed and turned to her mother, "Do you know what she has?"

"Chickenpox. She probably got it from one of her friends, but I guess its better she gets it now than latter."

"I had the chickenpox when I was little…" Brother vaguely threw in.

She forced a smile. "So um… you said that you two were brothers…?"

"Yes, we haven't really had a chance to fully introduce ourselves have we? I'm Alphonse Elric, and this is my older brother Edward."

"Edward Elric?" she questioned, looking interested, "I think I've heard about you before… you were a State Alchemist in the Military if I remember correctly?"

"Yep, still am actually."

"I see, yes I do think I've read something about you in the paper." Brother was now secretly beaming up front. "Oh, this is our turn, our house is on this road."

There was a pause in the conversation. "So," I said, "How long have you lived in Rizenbool?"

"A few years. It's such a nice, quiet little place, my husband and I greatly prefer it to the city. And you?"

"We both were born here. We… left for a while when we were older, but now we have a house here, I guess it isn't too far away from yours."

She raised an eyebrow. "You two… live together?"

"Um… yes we do," I said, feeling rather offended.

"Where are your parents in all this?" she inquired.

"Uh… um…"

Brother answered for me. "Our mother's dead, and our father left a long time ago."

She pursed her lips together and said nothing more until we got to their house.

"This is it," she said plainly. When the car stopped she rather quickly opened the door and hurried Calli to her feet.

"Well… thanks," she said, and walked into her house without another word, I didn't even get to say goodbye to Calli.

Brother blinked. "Well thanks? Her voice was just dripping with gratitude, don't you think?"

"She could have been a little more… grateful, I suppose, but Brother she didn't know us very well."

"So? We saved her a good three mile hike home! She didn't even tell us her name, and did you notice she turned into an ice queen after we told her we lived together?"

"I think that we lived alone was the part she didn't like."

He grumbled.

"Let's just go home, I'm getting a little sleepy…"

"Sleepy? It's only four, and didn't you say you wanted to go see Winry?"

"I don't really feel like it anymore, actually…"

"Seriously? Okay, home we go. But you better not be saying this to get out of unloading the food in the back."

I leaned back in the seat and tried to keep my eyes opened.

When I woke up in the morning, a few days later, I felt even worse.

"I don't feel so well…" I mumbled, while a panic-stricken Ed hovered over my bedside.

"What kind of not well? Dizzy? Headache? Fever?"

"Well…I am a little warm, and my stomach feels weird…"

Brother paced and puzzled a bit on his own for a while, then his eyes widened like saucers. "Urm... Al? Remember when we gave that girl and her mother a ride home? And I was saying I had the chickenpox when I was really little? Well, I was so little I don't think you were even born yet, so…"

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Think about it Al!"

"Brother, I'm fourteen years old, I can't have the chickenpox," I said gruffly.

"Age doesn't matter! If you haven't had it, you could get it anytime!"

"That's absurd."

"Oh no it isn't!"

"Uh, can we just stop arguing? My head hurts…"

"Aha! A headache is one of the first signs!"

"How do you know what the symptoms for chickenpox are? Which by the way, I still don't have."

"You're just in denial. I'll have to start stockpiling stuff like soup and orange juice and oatmeal, for baths you know? I think there are some more spare blankets in the closet, maybe I'll try to get my hands on a bed heater of some kind…" He continued ranting on, completely ignoring me.

"Listen," I interrupted, "if it'll make you feel better I'll stay in bed today, maybe I'll even take it easy for the rest of the week. But I'm going to be rather cross when it turns out I'm not sick."

"Fine with me," he said with a smirk.

Approximately two weeks later we found ourselves upon a similar scenario, with a few minor alterations…

"Brother this sucks."

"Alphonse…"

"Yeah yeah, I know exactly what you're going to say. "I told you so."

I was lying in bed, huge blankets piled on top of me, covered from head to toe in very large, red, itchy dots. It felt like ants were crawling and biting all over me, not to mention I felt absolutely dreadful.

"I wasn't going to say that. I'm not going to taunt my little brother when he's in such obvious pain and discomfort and… itchiness."

"Not funny."

"Sorry…"

"This is all that darn cars fault! I knew getting it was a bad idea, if we didn't have that thing we never could've given Calli a ride home, and I would've never gotten sick!"

"Or you could just blame the guy who gave it to me in the first place, our lovely and powerful Fuhrer."

"Whatever… ugh, not only do they itch, now they're starting to hurt!"

"I know Al."

"And they're everywhere."

He raised an eyebrow. "Everywhere?"

"Yes Brother," I said dryly, "I have them everywhere."

"Even…? You know…"

"Yes."

"Ohh... my poor little baby," he cooed, "Do you want me to get another bath going for you? It helps, doesn't it?"

"Maybe…I don't know…."

"Well, how about something else? Another book? Something to eat? I think there are still some apples in the cupboard…"

I sniffled. "You're just looking for an excuse to leave."

"What? Oh no no no! What gave you that idea?" he asked with a laugh.

I pulled the covers up to my nose. "I'm covered in hideous red spots that make me look, and feel, like a rotten tomato."

"It's not that bad Al, honest! Here, let's try to get something in your stomach and I'll start a nice, hot bath, how's that sound?"

"You already suggested a bath Brother."

"I did?"

"Yes, actually."

He grinned. "Well, maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to see you without any clothes on…"

"Brother!" I gasped. I felt mortified and threw the covers over my head.

"Oh Al, I was just kidding," he soothed.

"Exactly, because I'm too hideous to look at right?" I accused.

"No! I didn't mean it like… ah…" He cleared his throat and tried again. "You know I don't think that Al, don't put words into my mouth."

He reached under the covers and petted my hair. "And, urm, just for the record, I think you're very… well, you know..."

"What? Spit it out Brother."

"I think you're very attractive," he said plainly, then leaned back in his chair.

Hearing something that complimentary from Brother's mouth certainly got my attention. I slightly pulled down the blanket. "You mean it?"

"Absolutely. Even when you think you look like a tomato."

I pulled the blanket back down to my chin. "You're wonderful…" I murmured.

He smiled again and planted a long kiss to my forehead.

"I try."

Brother continued to treat me like a prince the whole time I was sick, it was almost déjà

vu of when I was struggling to get back on my feet when I got my body back. I was almost a little disappointed when my skin finally started to heal, but it was time to get back into the routine of things, lord knows I was getting restless in those last few sick days. And Brother had sure left the house a mess without me to nag him about it…

I was awoken one night to the sounds of furious scribbling and curses emitting from our basement.

I crept down the stairs to find Brother, wide awake, his pen moving rapidly across a piece of document, huge stacks of papers piled around him. I rubbed my eyes and asked, "Brother? What are you doing still working? It's almost three in the morning."

His pen stopped and he looked over to the stairwell, giving me a tired smile. "Well… I was so busy taking care of you the past few days, I kinda got behind on my paperwork. It's real tedious stuff, but it looks like I might have to pull an all-nighter."

"You have to do it all now?"

"Yeah, I need to send it out in the morning if I want it to get to Central on time. But!" he tried to smile again and stretched out his arms, "I've still got four more hours until daylight and enough caffeine in my system to keep me awake for a week, it'll be no problem!"

His smile managed to hang for a good five seconds before he groaned and collapsed on his desk.

"Oh… who am I kidding? I'm doomed, I'm never going to be able to finish it, especially in the state I'm in…"

I just sighed and smiled, walking over to him and kissing the top of his head.

"How about…" I said, beginning to lightly rub his shoulders, "You go upstairs and get some sleep, and I'll finish the rest of it for you?"

"Whaat? I couldn't let you do that, what kind of lazy bum do you take me for? I'm not going to dump this all on you, especially since your still in recovery from your chickenpox escapade."

"I'm fine, really! It'd be no trouble at all, please."

He hesitated. "But…"

"No excuses mister, I can handle this. Now shoo!"

"I'm going I'm going… if you insist."

He paused only to kiss me, the long, deep kind that made my head spiral all over the place.

"Thanks Al, you've saved my hide yet again. What in the world would I do without you?" he said with a laugh.

"You're welcome. Now go to bed!"

"I'm going!"

I listened to the sound of his boots ascending the stairs, reaching out to pick up his pen and glancing at the workload before me. I wasn't going to lie, it was a lot of stuff to do, but my head was already swimming with all the extra bonus cuddling and whatnot Brother was going to owe me. Too late to change my mind anyway…

I drummed my fingers and chuckled to myself.

"Oh no, dear Brother," I barely whispered, "The question isn't what you would do without me, for how in the world could I live without you?"

Urm… that kind of unintentionally ended on a rather creepy note. Hehe, whoops, but I had to think of something.

In the next chapter the major plot development shall be finally set in motion! So there probably won't be another pure fluff chapter for a while. This may be good, this may be bad. Guess I'll find out, eh?

Cheers!

-ATA