Chapter 10: In Memoriam

"Edward? Alphonse?" the brothers smiled down at the little girl who was looking up at them.

"Yeah!" they chuckled and Alphonse finished, "I guess we've changed, huh?" the little girl nodded, her pigtails bouncing against her shoulders.

"Yup." She turned and gazed into the apartment, then back at the two. "You wanna come in?" her eyes lit up as familiarity finally arose in her mind.

"Are you sure you're mom wouldn't mind?" Alphonse asked, a little concerned that she wouldn't be happy to see them… after what had happened to her husband Al didn't blame her.

"Nope!" the little girl shrugged and threw the door open, skipping backwards and collapsing on the first chair. "Besides, you two never visit!" she clucked in mock anger and smiled at them.

"We've been busy Elysia." Alphonse gave a quick look to Ed, then entered, sitting on the couch.

"And we're gonna be busy for a while longer, okay?" Edward sat next to his brother and let his eyes drift to the mantle. A picture of days long past was held there, a devoted father and husband held a little Elysia with pride in his eyes. Next to him there stood a laughing wife, now a widow, who in those days had had no doubt that her husband would come home safe.

"Promise you'll be safe!" Elysia Hughes huffed, frowning slightly. "And that you'll come visit again soon!" giving a small smile Alphonse chuckled.

"Yeah, we'll do that." He stared at their friends daughter. She had to be about eleven and yet still seemed to retain some childhood innocence.

"Elysia what have I told you about leaving the door-" a middle aged woman, graying but smiling gently walked through the front door.

The air went cool for a moment, then heated back up.

"Edward, Alphonse." She smiled, sitting the bag she had been carrying on the floor and moving to sit next to her daughter. "It's nice to see you two again." Alphonse smiled back, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Edward and then frowning as his brother got up. "And whatever happened to your leg?" she gasped.

"Umm…just a little clumsiness on my part, nothing to worry about." Ed hesitated, then moved towards the door. "I forgot something." With a soft click Edward exited, holding his breath and trying to calm his nerves. This was stupid. How many times had Mrs. Hughes told him it wasn't his fault? But you did kill him, whispered a voice, you lead him into danger and he died for his troubles. But Mrs. Hughes didn't blame him, Elysia didn't blame him… but they should.

"He still doesn't know quite how to talk to you guys." Alphonse murmured, trying to convey Ed's emotions into words. "He still feels guilty."

"'bout what?" Elysia interrupted, bobbing her head.

"He shouldn't feel that way." Mrs. Hughes looked at the picture. "I know Maes wouldn't want him to."

"He's just not sure how to talk to… you two." Alphonse paused, laughing slightly, "I think in his mind he believes that so many people were hurt and gave up their lives for us that we should repay them."

"Like equivalent exchange?" Gracia cocked her head smiling, "I thought you two didn't agree with that."

"No, not equivalent exchange," Al smiled, looking at the picture as well, "We're going to come up with a new theory, one that adds something of yourself to alchemy." Al glanced towards the door, where he was sure Ed would be listening in.

"I'm glad that some good came of all of it." She murmured, taking in Al's human body for the first time.

"Yeah…" Alphonse looked at her and smiled.

"He still has his metal leg?" Al frowned.

"Yeah, he says it serves as a reminder to keep him out of trouble- and to keep Winry busy!" he laughed, but felt a slight pang as he thought about another thing that Ed had lost.

"And his alchemy?" there it was, the words that made Al cringe every time.

"… Gone…." Alphonse sighed, "He gave it up to bring me back." Alphonse looked at Elysia's questioning face.

"Alphonse?" she asked, eyes alight with curiosity, "Will you do alchemy?"

Part of him wanted to, part of him wanted to clap his hands together and transmute something. But he held back. Not while brother's around, he thought.

"No Elysia." He took a quick glance towards the door. Not while Ed is close enough to feel it happen. He smiled and gave a final look at the picture of the Hughes family in better days. "Besides," he recalled what Teacher had told them as children long ago, "Alchemy can't be used to create and fix everything. You cant solely rely on it."

Her face went downcast for a brief moment, then turned back into a smile.

"Okay!" she hopped up, turning to her mother and asking, "I'm gonna go play now, okay?" before heading down the hall and into what Al assumed was her bedroom.

"I didn't mean to nib nose." Gracia frowned softly.

"It's fine." Al slowly stood. "I should get going, we have to go and catch a train soon."

"You boys take care, you hear?"

"Yeah." Alphonse gave a small wave.

"And tell Edward," she heightened her voice so that Edward would hear her, "That I don't blame you two. And that Maes would've been happy." She smiled as Al gave her a thankful smile and left, closing the door and leaving her to her thoughts.

They never quite got it out of their systems dear, she looked at the photograph and then imagined the two children she had met years ago, so determined to see change, So eager to see some good in the world… she got up and silently padded over to her daughter's room.

Peering in she noticed her little girl playing with her stuffed animals, humming softly to herself. They'll never know how much I don't blame them.. she went in and sat next to her daughter, who smiled invitingly, how hard it must be… she mused, watching her daughter with maternal eyes, To keep on living when you know that you've caused people misfortune… She looked up at the sky through the window and wished with all of her heart that the Elric's would always know that at least one person didn't blame them, that they always had a safe house to come to in Central.