Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist, hell I don't own the title to this fan fic. FMA belongs to Arakawa-sama and the title and song belong to the writers, editors, and whatnot of Martina McBride. I do not condone abuse nor am I a fan of it. I also do not own any characters from Naruto or familiar characters from other series, they belong to Kishimoto-sensei and their respective artists.

A/N: Dark themes, child abuse, violence, language. This story is fictional and should it offend anyone please do not read. Flames will be used to make smores and comments and constructive criticism is welcome. This story is un-beta'd and edited by me. Oh, and here's a shocker, Hoenhiem is the good parent in this, OMFG. lol.

Chapter 11

Born from silence,
silence full of it
A perfect concert my best friend
So much to live for, so much to die for
If only my heart had a home

Dead Boys Poem-Nightwish

One Month Later

Hoenheim stood in his kitchen at their new home they'd had to move into as a safety precaution. Thanks to the help of Mr. and Mrs. Uchiha as well as the detectives they lived in the same part of Cambridge as the Uchiha family, only five blocks away to be precise. This house was an old Victorian home with a wrap around porch, two floors, a large front and back yard, and a spacious attic. Hoenheim's room was downstairs towards the back of the house. The kitchen was across from the living room towards the front and the dining room was through the kitchen. There were four rooms upstairs and he only used one as his office upstairs, even though his bedroom was large enough for him to have an office and still comfortably have enough space for his bedroom.

Ed and Al had even more spacious rooms than they had in their previous house and Ed had taken the room in the middle of the upstairs area and given the back bedroom to Al. They still had their study and within the past week, with the help of Sasuke and Naruto's families as well as the Harrison's, Kudo's, Heartwell's, and Riku they were able to make short work of getting everything unpacked and settled in the new home.

Mikoto had insisted that they hang up all the pictures that had frames and had even brought some more frames for them to hang up other pictures. Though there was hardly enough pictures to cover all the walls with there were family portraits in the hall leading to the back of the house, one in the living room, and both boys had a copy of the most recent family photo of all four of them together in their rooms. Ed had taken to putting posters on his walls of rock bands, movies, or anime, Hoenheim believed it was called, that he was a fan of.

Al put posters on his walls of movies he liked, promotional posters for books he was a fan of, and he believed Al found a poster for a piece of art Al liked. It made it obvious that two young boys with diverse personalities occupied the rooms upstairs. Their study was bare of posters because the full bookshelves and their desks occupied the walls. Both of them had refused to leave Winry's desk out of the study and Ed had been adamant about pointing out that if Winry came over after school to study she would need somewhere as a workplace so refused to hand over the desk even when the Kudo's suggested it.

Though Winry wasn't officially adopted by the young detective and karate teacher, he believed it was only a matter of time and convincing before they did so. He did wonder if Winry would agree to changing her last name to Kudo once it was said and done. They had still yet to go to court against the Wethertons' but Minato Namikaze, who Hoenheim eventually agreed to having as the lawyer for this case, said it was only a matter of time and presently it was best to let things settle down so that Ed and Winry were not overwhelmed.

Hoenheim was currently washing the dishes from dinner when he heard the footsteps of Ed and Al coming downstairs and making their way into the kitchen. It pained Hoenheim to hear the slight gait to Ed's footsteps, though he was mostly healed and was released from the hospital last week the muscle, nerve, and ligament damage was going to take a while to heal and there was a possibility that Ed would have to live with a slight limp for the rest of his life.

He was rinsing off the last of the dishes and drying his hands with the dish towel when Al said cheerfully as he and Ed stepped over to the small table in the center of the kitchen; "Dad, can I go stay with Naruto for a few days tomorrow?"

Hoenheim smiled, "Of course, as long as you clear it with Kushina."

"Okay," Al grinned before walking over to him, hugging him, giving a brief thanks, then turning and running back to his room most likely to call Naruto back and tell him. Ed sat down at the table and propped an elbow up on the table to rest his chin in the palm of his hand. Hoenheim turned and started drying and putting away dishes so that he could clean the countertops easier as he said, "Is something wrong Edward?"

"No, what makes you think that?"

That was one of the things that frustrated Hoenheim, Ed was much more closed off and distant since being released from the hospital. He was often short, sarcastic, and spiteful towards him and though he was used to the treatment considering how the first six months of being around one another had gone, but he disliked moving backwards since the progress they had made since leaving Europe.

"I often assume something is wrong when all you've presented me with is attitude lately son."

"Funny that, considering you track record old man."

"Edward, if you have something you wish to say please say it."

The room fell into a thick silence but Hoenheim continued to put away dishes and then set to cleaning the counters and the stove before he finally turned to regard his son still sitting there silently. Ed was looking at him contemplatively, as though he was weighing the pros and cons of saying what was on his mind. Ed got to his feet and still didn't look away, "Why did you leave," he said finally.

"I had to," Hoenheim answered simply.

"I want more than that."

"I can't give you more than that."

"I went through enough shit while you were gone to deserve a better explanation old man. Why did you leave, the real reason, the truth?"

"To protect your mother, you, and Al."

"That's crap, what father would leave his family to fend for themselves thinking it was for the best?"

"It was."

"The hell it was!" Ed said sharply while slamming his palms on the table angrily. "All that time . . . do you have any idea what it was like to watch her suffer like that? No! Of course you don't! You weren't fucking there!"

"You're hardly old enough to understand that or demand answers from me Edward."

"I was hardly old enough to take care of myself and Al at seven years old after she died too you son of a bitch!"

"Brother! Stop it! Don't talk to dad like that!" Al had run back downstairs at the sound of raised voice and was now looking at his brother with a horrified look on his face. Ed turned on his heel and stomped out of the room almost brushing past Al by side stepping at the last second to keep from doing so, he wasn't mad at Al so he wasn't going to take it out on him. The next thing they heard was the back door slamming shut and Al looked at his dad pleadingly. Hoenheim let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry Al."

"I know, but it was brother that started it so don't be, I'm going to try to talk-"

"No. I think its' time I lived up to the consequences of my actions. Both of you deserve a answer and your brother is right. You are both mature for you age, and that's my fault for leaving, but you do deserve to hear the truth."

"Dad-"

"Let us speak with your brother Alphonse."

Al followed his father silently out to the backyard and they found Ed sitting underneath one of the trees closest to the house with his arms folded over his chest. Al ran over to him and Ed looked up at the sound of Al's hurried footsteps, Al gave Al an apologetic smile but grimaced when Hoenheim stepped over to them. Ed got to his feet and was about to say something when Hoenheim held up one hand and said, "You're right Edward. You deserve to know the truth more than anyone else."

"So are you going to say it or is that it?"

"Brother . . ." there was a pleading tone in Al's voice. Ed sighed and looked at Hoenheim expectantly but otherwise stayed quiet.

"As I found out recently, both of you are aware of the dangers of carrying the Elric name, especially in London."

Al nodded solemnly, "I don't know the dangers firsthand, but what brother suffered was enough to enlighten me."

Ed glanced at Al with another apologetic look but Hoenheim continued so his gaze turned back to his father.

"I was a fool for thinking you were better protected without my presence. I should have never left so I could have been there as a father is supposed to be."

Ed nodded, "Exactly, but this enemies crap is getting on my nerves. Enemies in the shadows, the ones you can't see, how can you run from something you don't know even exists?"

"I know they exist and who they are. Many of them were soldiers that were brought into the light for being cruel and inhuman towards civilians captured in times of war."

"The civil wars in the middle east or something," Ed asked.

"Mostly, but there were also times where the military had to step in to deal with riots in countries in Europe, such as Italy, Germany, France, or Spain."

"So you pissed a bunch of psychopaths off by seeing they received the justice they deserved and that's why?"

"That's one of the reasons, yes. There is another reason."

"Well, what's the other reason old man?"

Hoenheim sighed, "Edward, you know I have given up alchemy, especially since the three of us have been together."

"Alchemy, that has something to do with you disappearing and leaving mum to die of a broken heart and a disease she tried to hide from us? Alchemy is the damn source of-"

"Edward, listen for a moment. I do not wish to tarnish something you value very highly in your life, but it was my expertise and knowledge on alchemy that posed the most threat. There are other alchemists out there that are just as powerful and intelligent as myself if not more so. Alchemists who practice human transmutation or the making of chimera's."

The color drained from both Ed and Al's faces and they looked between one another and then back to Hoenheim. Al was the first to speak up in a quiet voice, "You were worried those alchemist would find us . . . "

Hoenheim gave a nod, "Among other things. One of these alchemists had the idea that by using a strong alchemist as a sacrifice they could obtain the legendary Philosophers' stone. This is why I did not want either of you to continue studying alchemy, but your mother wasn't aware of the danger of both of your growing and developing your alchemical skills so she continued to encourage you. There's nothing that can be done about that now. Even without studying you two were likely to become powerful alchemists anyway, your namesakes were legends in their time after all."

"Namesakes?"

Hoenheim smirked, he couldn't help it, it wasn't often that he came across a bit of history his sons' didn't already know about. Hoenheim motioned to the house and turned towards it, "I have a few books that tell their story if you care to read them."

"You're actually going to share you allusive archive with us," Ed asked as he and Al followed him, both always eager to learn something new. Hoenheim chuckled, "Not the entire archive Ed, just the books on the two brothers you boys are named after."

The following morning Hoenheim welcomed Minato and Kushina into his home while Naruto ran upstairs to find Ed and Al. Minato chuckled at his sons antics while he followed Hoenheim into the kitchen to sit at the small table. There was no denying Naruto was Minato's son, the same spiky, shocking blond hair, the same bright blue eyes, and the ear splitting grin were some of the many traits father and son shared. There was of course Minato's cheerfulness and his sense of humor. Kushina was kind but firm, she was the only means of disciplining both her energetic son and her prankster husband. She had pale skin, unlike her husband and sons' natural bronze skin, green eyes and long, red hair she usually wore down.

Both were wearing simple clothes, a simple t-shirt and jeans, it was hard to believe they were the parents of an eleven year old bundle of energy currently finding that Al nor Ed were in their rooms.

"Sorry about all the noise this early in the morning," Kushina said with a apologetic smile.

Hoenheim chuckled, "No need to apologize Kushina, its' time those two learn to stop falling asleep in the study anyway."

Sure enough a door was heard slamming open and then Naruto bellowing out Ed and Al's names which was soon followed by startled yell, something hitting the floor and then what sounded like a book being thrown. Al's indignant, though half asleep, yell of "Brother!" told them who had thrown the book. Naruto's laughter meant Ed had missed his target and then there were running footsteps. The adults in the kitchen looked up when two flashes of blond passed down the hallway and out the front door. Then Al came running through the hall, he paused to say, "Hello Kushina-san, Minato-san," then he was following after the two.

After Hoenheim managed to get all three boys inside and after stopping Ed from trying to transmute a tree around Naruto they all sat down to a hot breakfast in the dining room. Al and Hoenheim had to keep reminding Ed not to talk with his mouth full and Kushina had to do the same for Naruto. There was almost a food fight when Naruto accidental mentioned how short summer vacation was that Ed took as a quip about his height. Minato thought it was hilarious up until he ended up with scrambled eggs thrown in his face and then grits were thrown and a few biscuits with gravy before Kushina, Al, and Hoenheim could stop the three blonds from tearing up the dining room. Kushina made all three of them clean up their mess so at the moment she, Al, and Hoenheim were sitting in the living room. Al kept glancing towards the kitchen when something fell over and Hoenheim smiled at him, "Don't worry Al, your brother will fix anything that's broken."

"But-"

"Alphonse, have you been practicing on the piano lately?"

Al looked at Kushina with a soft smile, "Well, not lately."

"That's understandable. I've yet to hear you play the piano and doesn't Edward play an instrument as well?"

Al nodded, "Yes. Brother plays the violin, he doesn't usually like to play for an audience."

Hoenheim chuckled, "Al is also pretty shy, but both of them are very talented and gifted when it comes to music. They have played a few duets together when they practice."

"Really, I'd love to hear you two play sometime."

"Yeah, Ed you and Al should play something for us," Naruto said excitedly as he came into the room. Ed glared at him, "You'd think you would be tired of hearing us play when you spend all your time listening to Sasuke playing."

"Nah, you two play different kinds of music, Sasuke plays really depressing music."

Hoenheim got to his feet, "We just set up a music room in the next room last week, why don't we go in there to hear the boys play."

"I never said I agreed to play," Ed said with a huff.

"Please play something for us Edward," Minato commented from the hallway behind them with a pout. Ed sighed and turned to walk to the music room, "Fine damn it."

"Ed watch your language."

"Yeah, yeah," Ed called as he went into the room next to the living room. Al followed after him first and then everyone else. There was one bookshelf in the room that held most of the music books, Al usually played with a music book while Ed was able to memorize the entire song after a few times of practicing. The room was spacious enough to hold a wall piano and two couches. There was a cabinet where Ed usually kept his violin, Hoenheim had bought him three more just in case he left his violin at school, which he did often, so he would have a way to practice.

Hoenheim took a seat at one of the couches, Naruto plopped down next to him as Ed walked to the cabinet and opened it to take out his violin while Al sat before the piano and tried a few keys before he turned to watch Ed. Kushina and Minato sat on the other couch which was positioned to face the piano, side by side. Ed tuned everyone out as he resigned his bow and tuned his violin before he turned to look at Al.

"Which one?"

Al smiled, usually Ed just played and Al was left to guess what it was and start playing along with him. It was nice of Ed to ask him which song they should play. It had been a long time since they'd played their mothers song and Al really wanted to play it, it was always surreal how much heart and soul Ed played Amazing Grace with. Al looked expectantly at Ed and his brother's face fell and Ed shook his head and turned away.

"Please brother," Al pleaded.

"No Al, I don't want to."

"We can play whatever you want after, but please, its' been almost a year since we played it and we really should play it more often because it was her song."

"Al," Ed drawled.

"Brother, please."

Hoenheim cleared his throat and both of his sons looked over at him. Hoenheim stood up and pointed to the ceiling, they noticed the microphones and both looked at him bewildered as to when their father had installed the microphones. Al turned a triumphant grin to Ed, "Brother, we could play it this once and dad could record it and then I'd never ask you to play it again."

Al continued to look pleadingly at Ed until Ed finally sighed, "Fine, but this is seriously the last time I am ever playing this song, ever again."

"Okay brother," Al looked at Hoenheim, "Dad, this room is sound proof right?"

"Yes, we will have to stay in here and be silent in order to hear you. As soon as I turn the recorder on," Hoenheim motioned to the red switch near the light switch which both Al and Ed glanced at before Ed smirked.

"You sure have a lot of faith in our talents to go through all this trouble old man," Ed said casually. Al gave him a pointed look, "Brother, can't you just give a straight compliment?"

"It wasn't-never mind," Ed turned his attention back to his violin and ducked his head. Al snickered at him which earned him a glare and even Naruto laughed at Ed's expense. Hoenheim smiled and then made his way over to the recorder switch and after a few minutes he received nods from Ed and Al that they were ready. He looked to Naruto and his parents and they gave nods that they understood they had to be completely silent. Al held his fingers hovering over the keys while Ed held his bow over the violin strings.

They watched Hoenheim as he flipped the switch and after a moment of static sounding in the room from the recorder turning on Ed and Al began to play. The soundproof room made the music louder and even though it echoed in the room it was the beauty of it, the way the music enveloped everyone in the room including the musicians. Even though Ed protested playing this song because of the sentimental value of it he truly played with everything he had. His eyes were closed as he played, as if he was in a trance.

Naruto had heard both Al and Ed practice music, but this was different, watching them play together in perfect sync and harmony and the way they seemed worlds away as their hands, minds, hearts, and souls poured music into the room had him silent in awe. Naruto couldn't help but think that if these two or just one of them stood up on a stage and played for a large audience they would be able to capture their attention fully. They were realy musicians, just like Sasuke who played with all he had, it was the only way he could ever catch his best friend as human as himself. Now Naruto could fully understand why Sasuke kept saying that Ed was the better musician though, Ed simply glowed as he played even though there was serious, concentrated expression on his face.

As the last notes played Hoenheim stopped them from applauding and motioned to the brothers as Ed opened his eyes and looked at Al. He held up three fingers and Al nodded and they began the next song with Al starting to play a song no one but Hoenheim recognized. It was an old, German classic that started off slow and melodic and picked up the pace after two measures. Hoenheim smirked when the song turned complex, it seemed both of his sons didn't mind showing off regardless of how much they claimed they didn't like playing in front of an audience.

As this song ended Hoenheim had to stop everyone from applauding and got to his feet to turn off the recorder, once he did Naruto, Kushina, and Minato were on their feet and father and son were whistling and applauding loudly. Ed scoffed and put up his violin as Al blushed in embarrassment and said a bashful thank you. As everyone cleared out of the music room Naruto threw an arm over Ed and Al's shoulders as they headed for the front of the house.

"You two really do have talent, now I see why Sasuke is so insistent that you play better than him."

Ed growled and shoved Naruto's arm off his shoulder then said, "Shouldn't you go help Al get his things together so you can get out of my hair Naruto?"

Naruto grinned, "Yeah. Geeze, you don't take compliments any better than you give them, relax Ed." Naruto laughed as he jumped away and ran up the stairs when Ed took a swing at him. Al followed after Naruto and was relieved when Ed didn't follow them upstairs. Hoenheim and Naruto's parents had made their way into the living room again and just before Ed was going to go upstairs to his study Kushina called out to him, "Edward, come and chat with us for a moment."

Ed grumbled but walked into the living room and sat down on the couch next to his father. Kushina smiled as Minato grinned at him. "Have you ever thought of playing professionally Edward?"

"No, that's like selling out, I play because I like music," Ed answered with a casual shrug, Kushina and Minato exchanged a glance and then smiled approvingly at Ed. Ed ducked his head and Kushina chuckled, "I understand what you mean Edward, there are a lot of people who have talents but don't wish to share them for worrying about becoming shallow and forgetting why they originally loved to do something. Music, writing, art, there are many things out there where the best are not famous. But those that can share in their talents and witness them are truly blessed."

"Yes, thank you for playing for us, it was truly a treat we'll have to repeat," Minato said with a grin as he stood just as Al and Naruto came back downstairs. Hoenheim got to his feet and walked them to the door. Al nearly tackled Ed as he stepped out into the hall and as he hugged him he said, "Thank you brother," Ed returned the hug and patted his back in a silent way of saying 'Your Welcome' then watched everyone leave. Ed shuffled his feet then turned to his father as he closed the door.

Now was a good time to ask his father about those three guys he'd had a run in with in London. Now that Al wasn't around to hear him, because he knew Al wasn't an idiot all that time but he still didn't want his brother to know just how badly he was hurt or how dangerous it was or risky so that's why Ed would disappear for a few days to let his wounds heal so Al wouldn't see just how bad it was.

Ed could feel his father watching him and he blinked and looked directly at him.

"Something on your mind?"

"Yes, I want to talk to you."

"That's different, are you sure you're not just wanting to yell at me," Hoenheim said with a smirk.

Ed scowled, "I could change my mind anytime old man," Ed turned and walked into the living room to sit on the couch that Naruto's parents had previously occupied while his father followed him and sat on the couch across from him. Ed let out a heavy sigh and turned to stare at the wall by the television, which was usually turned off. Ed didn't see why they had a t.v. when none of them really spent anytime watching it.

"There were these guys I ran into in London . . . "

"Guys?"

Ed nodded, "Yeah, guys. Three of them, ex-military, dangerous type, threatened me, roughened me up. Those kind of guys."

Hoenheim tensed and looked at his son fully now, "Did you catch their names, what did they look like? Were you seriously hurt?"

Ed sighed and finally looked at his father then raised his hand and pulled his bangs back to show the faded, jagged scar that ran across the top left side of his forehead and disappeared into his hairline. Before Hoenheim could comment Ed turned in his seat and lifted his braid up to show a scar than ran down the back of his neck, starting from his hairline and running down into his shirt collar. Hoenheim got to his feet and kneelt down in front of Ed, "Let me see the whole thing."

Ed sighed, "I will, but when I tell you who these guys told me they were," Ed kept hold of his hair as he spoke, "I want you to tell me everything."

"That's fair," Hoenheim said and Ed shifted and pulled his shirt off. Hoenheim grimaced and closed his eyes at seeing the scar. Now it made a lot of since why Ed had left his hair down while in the hospital, he didn't want anyone noticing the scar along the back of his neck that ended in between his shoulder blades. It was jagged and made a zig-zag. Hoenheim didn't reach out and trace the scar but his eyes did trace the rest of his sons back. There were faded, barely visible scars that were obviously the result of Ed being struck with a whip, he wondered why it was never brought up before. Ed seemed to feel where his eyes were because Ed shifted and pulled his shirt back on quickly, "I asked the nurse and Mikoto-san not to say anything."

"Why," Honeheim asked as he backed off and resumed his seat in the couch across from Ed.

"Tell me about these guys, Archer, Greed, and Kimblee first and then I'll tell you."

The color drained from Hoenheim's face at the mention of those names. Archer and Kimblee were definitely ex-military, he knew that for a fact, but Greed was another story. Greed's real name was Joespeh Javani, he was Italian and an ex-member of the Italian mafia. All three of them had an agenda with not only him but with their ex-comrades and anyone else that knew their true identities. Greed happened to work for the same alchemist that had caused Hoenheim to leave his family in an attempt to protect them.

"I know them, they are dangerous. Greed is an ex-member of the Italian mafia and the other two are ex-military, all three of them are known associates of a dangerous alchemist who happens to be the only remaining alchemist interested in human transmutation and finding the Philosophers' stone."

"That's great, I had to deal with three psychopaths who nearly killed me because they follow orders of some other psychopath."

"Edward-"

"Wait, that's not it. They didn't say anything about you when I ran into them. I was walking out of the library when I bumped into that Greed guy. I apologized and tried to keep going."

"Why were you at the library?"

"I was getting some books for me and Al to read, just because we weren't in school didn't mean we couldn't read and learn. Teacher got us into the habit of studying whenever we could, just like how Al and I train five days a week."
Hoenheim nodded, he understood that and he agreed with it, it was a good habit and not one he was going to even think of having his sons' break. "What happened next?"

"How about we do it this way, I tell you something and you give me information. I think it would be a good idea if I was informed in case I run into them again."

"Why do you believe you would?"

"Are you deaf or just senile, I told you that they didn't come after me because of you, they made that pretty clear when that son of a bitch Greed pinned me against an alleyway wall. Didn't think the guy was as strong as he looked, but he was stronger. I've never been a push over and Teacher did teach us how to overwhelm someone bigger than us, but it didn't work. None of them are push overs either."

"They never were, being a part of the mafia or the military is one way to toughen and train someone."

"No shit. They noticed I had an old alchemy book, the same book you happen to own a copy of. That fifty year old book written by the guys' whose namesake I have or whatever, Fullmetal."

Hoenheim nodded, "The Amateur Mistakes of Alchemists."

"Yeah, that one. I figured it would be worth reading so I made sure not to make those kind of mistakes. It's a good book and its' pretty easy to figure out. That guy thought the same way I do. It was that book that caught their attention and made them lash out at me. I don't know if there were any witnesses, not that they would speak up anyway."

Hoenheim nodded again, "Those three are pretty well known, even the police try to keep a distance."

"Yeah, well the police are cowards in Europe anyway, at least the ones I met. Not that any upstanding cops would want to be around those three anyway. I ran into them again, the second time was over an extended period of time and unfortunately I had to leave Al to fend for himself for two weeks . . . "

"What happened?"

"You first."

Hoenheim sighed, "Alright. Archer and Kimblee were officers that I testified and found concrete evidence on that the government used to charge them with assault and battery, human cruelty, and unjustifiable arrest and assassination. Greed was never caught and he is an ex-member of the mafia as well as wanted by them for killing the Mafia bosses son."

"Sounds like they dug their own holes."

"They did," Hoenheim agreed.

"So they are after alchemists because their boss thinks using a powerful alchemist is going to make his dreams come true. There's not any legitimate proof that this stone exists and if it does . . . its going to take more than one life to make the damn thing."

"How much research have you actually done on Fullmetal and his findings?"

"I ran across some of his research but it wasn't until last night that I actually took the time to really look at it."

"Delving into that kind of research is going to be dangerous. Just so you know, but Fullmetal was a genius and a prodigy, I think it is ironic that Trisha chose to name you and your brother after the two brothers who are your ancestors. I was also surprised that your headmaster happens to have the name of a famous alchemist from Fullmetal's era as well, most of his colleagues have the same names as well."

"That sounds like more than coincidence, maybe there's just a lot of people with bad senses of humor."

Hoenheim chuckled, "Yes it seems so. But things are not going to change just because of that."

"Maybe someone wanted to change the events of the past that didn't turn out in their favor," Ed said absently his mind already having moved away from their conversation. Hoenheim got to his feet when the phone started ringing and made his way to the kitchen to answer it. He picked it up after the third ring, "Hello Elric residence."

"Yo, Mr. Elric, its' Tidus, can I talk to Ed?"

"Yes, hold on a moment," Hoenheim cupped his hand over the reciever and called out, "Edward, phone call."

Ed called back, "I'll take it the study," Ed ran up the stairs and Hoenheim held the phone up to his ear until he heard Ed saying hello into the phone on the line then he hung up. Hoenheim headed to the music room to remove the tape Ed and Al's playing was recorded on so that he could put the songs on his computer. When there were enough songs he was going to make a c.d. and give them a copy, they could make copies for their friends if they chose to, but Hoenheim guessed only Al would actually do that, Ed was more likely to give a c.d. only to Winry.

That thought brought a smile to Hoenheim's face as he closed up the music room and made his way to his own office upstairs. He could hear Ed's muffled voice in the study as he walked upstairs but didn't bother to ask him what was going on, if Tidus wanted Ed to go somewhere or do anything Ed would at least tell him that he was leaving and how long he would be gone. Hoenheim trusted Ed to take care of himself, even if his older son was a magnet for trouble. He did plan on asking Ed why he'd lied about the bullying, but he would give him another week before he did. It was time Ed tried to enjoy what was left of his summer vacation.

It was nearly an hour later that Ed knocked on his office door and Hoenheim simply said, "Come in."

Ed walked into the room and leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest, "Tidus wants me to go with him and a bunch of his friends to this place close to the water."

"How long and how many of his friends?"

Ed shrugged, "Couple of days, his brother, their girlfriends, cousins, parents."

"A family outing and he's inviting you?"

"Like I know how he thinks, he also wants me to convince Sasuke to go, but I doubt he will."

"He might considering it would keep him from having to spend a few days with Naruto."

Ed laughed, "Yeah, I could use that as an excuse."

"When are you leaving?"

"Around four, Tidus' brother is supposed to be picking everyone up."

"That's fine, take your phone with you and your charger. Call me-"

"When I get there and in case anything happens, I know, I know. Thanks old man," Ed turned and walked out closing the door behind him and heading to his room.

Two hours went by before Hoenheim heard Ed cussing as he walked out of his room on his cell phone obviously talking to Sasuke if the words 'arrogant bastard, ice princess, and anti-social prick' were any indication to who he was speaking to. Ed's voice carried up from the stairs and then he heard the back door opening and closing.

Ed growled into the phone, "Come on Sasuke, I don't want to spend the next couple of days with a bunch of idiot jocks."

"You're the one who became friends with one of those idiot jocks."

"He's your cousin."

"I'm aware."

"You're a prick."

"Hn."

"Damn it Sasuke, it's an excuse for you not to have to spend a few days with Naruto, who happens to have Al and probably a lot more annoying people over at his house."

"Hn."

"Four o-clock, you could always walk over here."

"Fine, but only so my mother stops bothering me to get out of the house."

"Thanks Sasuke, I'll come over to your house and walk back here with you so you're mum doesn't think you're just running away from home."

"Hn."

"You need to work on that sense of humor your lacking."

Sasuke hung up on him, Ed growled and pocketed his phone then ran back inside and slammed the back door behind him on accident. He yelled up to Hoenheim, "Going to get Sasuke, be back," as he ran for the front door and was gone.

Hoenheim sighed, "Usual message delivery coming from Ed," then went back to work on his research on the alchemists he was just telling Ed about. If Ed was correct and he was attacked because of interest in his own ancestors then Hoenheim was going to learn all he could about the Elric ancestry and what the Fullmetal Alchemist had gotten into that eventually killed him. That was something years as a traveling researcher, philosopher, and alchemist had managed to tell him, he'd heard rumors about the once famous alchemist and his death just as much as he'd heard of his accomplishments.

He paused in what he was reading to think about how much things had changed between him and both of his sons, even though just yesterday he'd though he and Ed had made no progress at all, it seemed that he was mistaken. He and Ed were able to have a conversation and Ed had even confided something in him and depended on him to get some information. His son was mature, but Hoenheim planned to try and remember Edward was still a child, despite how much Ed hated the idea, he was only twelve years old.

The only reason he agreed to tell Edward anything was because he shared Ed's idea of equivalency and his son had already encountered those three so he did deserve to know the truth. Hoenheim was still lost in his thoughts when the front door opened and Ed and Sasuke's voice drifted upstairs to him alerting him to their arrival. He found he wasn't bothered too much by the number of guests in his house today, it was good that both of his sons were able to make friends and even better that their friends were such good friends.

"We're back but only for a few hours, going in the music room," Ed called from downstairs before Hoenheim heard a door closing. Hoenheim smiled and decided he would get back to his research wondering as he read through the journal logs he'd acquired thanks to Mustangs' connections with national libraries if his son kept a research journal. Hoenheim got to his feet and walked out of his office to go into his sons' study. He crossed the room and walked over to Ed's desk. He was hesitant to pick up the worn out red journal sitting on the desk with several, small, torn pieces of paper sticking out the top of it.

Ed was going to be mad at him if he was caught, an alchemists journal was personal as much as it was enlightening. But he was curious, Ed had made a comment earlier stating he thought the same way as the Fullmetal alchemist and Hoenheim was interesting in seeing whether or not that was true. Hoenheim sighed and walked out of the study and made his way back into his office, he couldn't just look in his son's research journal if he wanted to see it he could ask Ed and if he didn't want him to see it then he had to be alright with that.

Hours went by quickly, Hoenheim was started to get frustrated, these damn journal logs were complicated to understand and even harder to decipher. How was he supposed to get any alchemy research done when he couldn't figure out the notes he was reading? There was a knock on his office door and all he offered was a grunt. Ed opened the door and looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Having trouble old man?"

Hoenheim ran a hand through his hair and thought about it for a minute before he closed the journal he'd spent most of the day looking through and waved it at Ed. Ed dropped his black duffel bag in the doorway and stepped up to the desk and took the book, "What's this," he asked as he looked on both covers of the book.

"It's a journal log of the Fullmetal Alchemist."

Ed's eyes brightened curiously and he looked up at Hoenheim with the excitement of the scholar Hoenheim knew his son would always be. "Seriously? Where in the world did you get this, is this the only one you have?"

Hoenheim shook his head and motioned to the other five books he had to his left on the desk, "Those are the other ones. According to the person that got a hold of them for me they are the journal logs from age twelve to nineteen. That one is from twelve to fourteen and each one goes on from there. They are coded and I can't make sense of them. I was about to give them to you to go through since you said earlier that you and Fullmetal think alike, maybe you will have better luck."

"Are you pulling my leg," Ed asked in disbelief, "you're actually handing these to me to decipher? What about what you said earlier?"

"I have a condition of course," Hoenheim said simply.

Ed looked at him expectantly, "Which is?"

"You share your thoughts, at least try and explain what you find to me."

"That's it?"

Hoenheim nodded with a smirk, "Yes, that's it."

They were interrupted by the sound of a car horn outside, Hoenheim waved to the other journals which Ed moved to take and once Ed managed to shove them into his travel bag he hefted the bag on his shoulder and looked at Hoenheim, "See you in a few days dad," Ed said before he closed the door and made his way downstairs. Hoenheim sat back in his chair with a smile as he listened to Ed and Sasuke leaving and the front door closing behind them.