Thanks for reading up until now :D I appreciate it! Please feel free to read and review! I've also started a new story on my page with my girlfriend if anyone is interested in reading that ^_^ It is another Roy/Ed fic, but it is a yaoi :D

Again please feel free to read and review ^^

It was a long night. Edward and Roy never really fell asleep, and around three in the morning, they were the only ones that were still up. The dim lamp in the living room barely outlined the faces of the two companions taking residence on the white couch. They hadn't looked at each other for a while, and neither one spoke, but eventually Ed broke the silence.

"Ro-Colonel.."Ed said slowly, taking his golden eyes off of the ceiling and looking over at the dark-haired man next to him. Their bodies lay near each other but never really touched. They were both on edge but different emotions radiated through them.

"It.. It got Al's body back. That's all that matters. W-we, Al and I, decided to find our bodies a long time ago and we both knew we were going to have to sacrifice. We had decided that no matter what... we would do this" Ed said hesitantly. His voice shushed to barely a whisper.

I looked down at him, holding back tears for him. The flame alchemist.. Roy Mustang.. holding back tears for a kid. I laughed inwardly at myself.

"Edward... Twenty Years? Do you understand that implication? Twenty Years... that isn't a night... thats twenty birthdays.. twenty christmases.. you haven't even lived twenty years.. and you're already throwing twenty more away...?"

Ed continued looking around the room, keeping his eyes off of me and seemed to be analyzing something. He bit his lip, gnawing, nervously.

While looking at his face, I noticed his eyes. His golden eyes, on edge. Nervous. He's not telling me something. "While.. you were explaining, you lied when you said that there were no other consequences.. didn't you?"

My voice came out more stern than I meant it to be. Edward was strong.. but he'd gone through a lot lately. The kid's taken things pretty hard..

Edward did a double take. "H-How did you.." he asked slowly, trying to calculate me.

"Your face. You always look overly nervous when you tell a lie. You hesitate too much." I said, trying to lure Ed to tell me the information that I wanted to know. I always know about my subordinates, but Ed is usually the exception. Even so.. he's probably the one.. that I worry about the most.

Edward moved closer to me, to which I hesitated but didn't move away. "Edward.. "

Ed shushed me and began to whisper in a low voice. His eyes became watery and his voice began to break.

"R-roy.. I need you.. to do me a favor," his voice cracked after you and he had to take a breath, "I-I can't have anyone else knowing about this. I.. especially Al."

I nodded in agreement, but silently waited for him to continue. His eyes looked up at me and for a moment I was paralyzed. Golden eyes glistening from the tears. His lips red from biting them nervously, his pale cheeks. Beautiful.

I leaned down and wrapped an arm around him pulling him into a tight hug. "Edward.. i'm here, calm down" Edward seemed to resist at first but eventually left his body limp to be help like a child should be. I imagined he never had many hugs. With Al being a suit of armor for so long, his parents being gone..

We stayed like that for a few moments, while I listened to Edward hiccuping, and letting his tears soak into my shirt. Once he seemed content I let go and he continued on with his story.

"Roy.. the g-gate told me that they were going to shorten my l-life span.. I.. Al doesn't know.. please.. don't let anyone tell him. There.."

Roy nodded, "I already know that," I lowered my voice and added less harshly, "what else..?"

He took a short breath and let the rest of the words escape. He turned on his side so that he was completely facing me and looked me up and down.

"Roy.. I.. Al's body.. has been in the gate since we were.. very.. young..and there's a slight problem..."

I looked at him quizzically, not really following where this was going, but needing him to explain to me.

"Roy, the physical condition of the body... hasn't really been.. maintained. When I.. went into the gate to get it, the gate.."

He stopped shortly not knowing whether to go on or not. He looked to my face and my expression must've been information enough to let him know to continue.

"The gate said that it would let us keep our bodies, for twenty years.. and..", his voice dropped lower again and I had to move even closer to his face to hear it. His voice seemed hesitant but laggard. His voice seemed heavy and breathy like it was too much of an effort to talk.

"I get to keep my body.. but I had to take the physical condition of his body. My joints are weak.. It's hard to stand.. I can't move around very easily... I didn't get his body, I still have mine, but the body that it feels like I'm living in, has suffered from malnutrition.. dehydration.. lack of exercise.. It hasn't moved in years. I.."

"I can't let Alphonse find out.. and I need someone to help me keep it from everyone else.. C-can you help me..?"

At first it came as a shock. "You.. feel like you're living in the body.. that has been in the gate..?"

I looked at him and then it hit me. That makes sense. That's why he hadn't been moving very much. I'd seen him limping a few times but thought it was nothing!

He looked me up and down again. His movements became hesitant but very jerking for a few moments and I realized what he wanted.

I moved back and put my arms around him again. He moved closer to me this time and fisted my shirt, as his arms couldn't reach around me. I chuckled at the site.

"Don't worry Edward. I'll help you," I whispered into his long blonde locks.

I moved back a tad to see his face in my chest, and saw him look up at me.

"Thanks colonel," he said moving back to my chest.

I wrapped my arms tighter around him. The once strong, invincible, incorruptible Fullmetal wanted a hug from the flame alchemist.

I thought for a moment and whispered softly, "You.. and Alphonse were both in better shape before you made the deal. How have you been fighting Homunculi... with a body like that..?"

Edward's face blushed slightly and he closed his eyes.

"T-That doesn't matter. Just.. please help me. I can't fight off a homunculi by myself.. right now.." He looked at me, "If Envy came back tonight.. I wouldn't be able to fight him alone.."

I moved slightly and wrapped my arms around his tiny torso, making sure to keep from harming his body. He was warm, but he seemed exhausted.

"You won't have to. Envy won't come back... not right now.. and Even if he does, I'm here."

Edward seemed so small. So fragile. It took a few moments to realize that Edward was still talking and I almost missed his next sentence, but barely caught the end of it.

"...don't leave Roy.. I need you.."