Title Zunächst Nach Tag

Author Moses Requiem Fleitigan-Recinly

Rating "Pg 13"

Genre quasi-angst used as an excuse for romance to develop

Pairing: The story is Roy/Ed but this chapter has Roy/Al

Disclaimer I don't own things…

Warning Waffy Content (laughs at inside joke)

Apologies: SORRY THIS IS NOT A LEMON!….don't panic…im saving up the lemonness for the 3rd to last chapter…which btw is coming later than I thought…I still have another 6 chapters and an epilogue to go if all goes as planned, possibly more…thank Gyrrlgenius for that…she gave me lots a ideas… in fact I might be planning a sequel to this…but don't hold me too that…

More Apologies: Sorry this took so long!

Dedication The Title is dedicated to Daddy…the rest is once again dedicated my Ed (Gyrrlgenius) Because she is so zarking amazing and awesomer than awesome!

Chapter IX!

Ed smiled as he watched his brother work busily in the kitchen. Al had taken
on so many chores and responsibilities since Ed had become sick. As Ed
watched, he realized he needed to do something in return for Al's affection. He
wanted a way to show his appreciation. As he watched the small kitten that
followed close behind Al as he walked, an idea came to mind.

"Aru," Ed said in a questioning tone as his brother placed breakfast on
the table.

"Yes, Nii-san?' He replied cheerfully, happy that despite the grim prognosis
for the future, his brother was feeling a lot better today.

"I need to go into town today; you don't mind staying here alone for a
little while, right?"

"Nii-san, are you sure you should do that?" Al asked nervously. "I really
think you should stay here..."

"Yeah, Aru, I'll be fine. Trust me!" He said, with a small smile.

Al sighed. "I do trust you, Nii-san! It's just, you've said that before, and
each time, something bad has happened! How do you know this will be any
different?"

Ed got up from his seat and wrapped his arms around his brother. "Aru,
relax. I'm just going downtown. Nothing is going to happen to me in two
hours."

"And what if something does happen?" He asked with a pleading look in his
eyes, "Nii-san, I'm just worried about you…"

Edward let out a sigh; he didn't like making Alphonse so worried, "If I'm
not back in three hours come look for me, okay?"

Al didn't like the idea, but he knew his brother wasn't going to stop until
he had his way, "There isn't any stopping you, is there, Nii-san?" he said
with exasperation, "Do what you need to do...Just please be careful."

Ed smiled, and hugged his brother again. "Thanks, Aru."

Al didn't like being alone. Even if it was only for a few hours, he didn't
like being alone. He clutched his Katsumi-chan closer and patted her head. He
so was worried about Ed.

Alphonse became so lost in his thoughts that he jumped when the door of the
apartment opened.

"Hello, Alphonse," Roy said as he opened the door and looked around,
"Where's your brother?"

Al looked back down at the kitten in his lap, "He's not home."

"Not home?" Roy said, in slight disbelief, "Where is he, then?"

"I don't know; he didn't tell me. He just said he had to go downtown for
something, and he'd be back in an hour and a half."

"How long has he been gone?"

Al looked over at the clock, "8 minutes…" he sighed, "Would you like to wait
with me until he gets home?"

"Of course," Roy said, sitting down near Alphonse and softly petting the kitten
in his lap. He could see how uncomfortable the thought of Edward being away
made Al.

After a few minutes, a strangely comfortable silence fell over them, only
ever broken by the soft mews and purrs of Katsumi-chan.

"Why didn't he tell me earlier?" Alphonse said suddenly, "Why didn't he tell
me that he was getting worse?"

"He didn't tell you because he didn't want to upset you. He didn't want you
to worry about him," Roy answered in a soft tone.

"Did he really think he could keep that from me…It only took me a few days
to figure out, but just the fact that he couldn't even tell me; the fact that
I had to find out for myself…it just hurts."

"You know he didn't want to hurt you…he's just trying to protect you."

Alphonse was silent again, unable to get enough thoughts together to form a
coherent statement. After several minutes, a few soft sobs escaped from his
lips and made his chest heave. Roy placed his hand on Alphonse's shoulder,
comforting him.

"Why does he think he can get through this on his own?" Al questioned suddenly.

"Because he's Edward Elric," Roy responded with a small smirk, "You know
just as well as I do that that's just the way he is. He thinks he can do
everything…and under normal circumstances, he usually can" Roy added, an
undertone of admiration in his voice.

"But these aren't normal circumstances," Alphonse said, with a desperate tone
in his words.

Roy didn't know how to respond. He didn't know what he could say that would
make Alphonse feel any better….So, for the first time in a long while, he
acted on pure impulse and pulled Alphonse into a close embrace.

Al had no idea how someone was supposed to react to being hugged by their
brother's boyfriend, so his first instinct was to panic. After a few seconds,
however, that instinctual reaction faded away. He realized that the way Roy
was holding him now was different from the way Roy held Edward. It wasn't
about romance; it was about comfort. Roy simply wanted to make him feel
better, to calm him. He smiled and moved closer to Roy, suddenly realizing how
tired those last few sleepless nights had made him.

Closing his eyes, Al effortlessly fell asleep leaning against Roy. After a
short time, the silence and stillness began to affect Mustang as well, and he
too fell asleep, his arms still around Alphonse.

The door to the apartment creaked open, as Edward entered, carrying a large crate. Walking down the short hallway, he expected to find a worried or relieved looking Alphonse sitting on the couch, either alone or in the company of Katsumi-chan. He certainly wasn't expecting what he saw.

IM SOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG TO POST THIS! Emotional stress and viri killed my creativity….

OO…a cliffhanger-y ending! How will Ed react? Whats in the Crate? Will I ever get around to updating again? Well if you want to find out, you'd better review!

REVIEW OR YOU'LL NEVER FIND OUT! MUWHAHAHA!