Family of a Different Nature

Chapter 12 - Holy Stars Batward!

It was his first time in the small town that they didn't live far from. The old red truck had barely gotten there, by the time Greed had pulled up the station, the engine block was smoking and something clacked horribly. Edward jumped out, gasping and coughing because of the smoke.

"Well, its going to call a junk yard its new home," Edward pointed out as Greed opened the hood of the truck. An attendant came out and traded word with Greed before he and another man, who was huge with muscles, pulled/pushed the truck into the garage.

Edward, meanwhile looked around. Gefallen, he couldn't remember reading anything on it. Nor could he remember if he had traveled through while on a mission for Mustang. It was a simple town. Most of the people were farmers, he remembered that from the fields they had passed while on their way to town that morning to pick up some groceries from the General Store. Greed had wanted to spend some "Father/Son time" with him. That was why Jealousy and Martel had stayed home to do some cleaning.

The single dirt road led in and out of Gefallen. On either side were store fronts. They weren't as showy as Central, the sidewalks were made out of wooden planks, there was a saloon next to a dressing parlor that sold everything from work dresses, to wedding dresses. Next to the dress parlor was a Restaurant, then the General Store. There was a book shop as well, that boasted Alchemy texts. It was so tempting to just run inside and take a look, but he had promised, under duress, to remain with his "Father".

A hand on his shoulder distracted him, he looked up at a smiling Greed; "We'll take a look after we get the groceries," he promised. Edward nodded as he let himself be steered into the General Store. It was wall to wall dry goods except for the freezers in the back. They picked up two cartons of milk, which Edward made a face just by touching the jugs. Two dozen eggs, baking soda and powder, wheat flour (Martel insisted that it was healthier than white flour) and finally some pans that Martel had been grousing that she needed. To make cooking easier.

Mr. Barnabus Addison - the proprietor - was sixty years old with white hair he combed over a bald spot and hid watery blue eyes behind goggle glasses that made his eyes bigger than they were. He greeted Greed with a wave of a hand but addressed Edward first; "I haven't seen you around, young man,"

"He's my Dad, and I've been too sick lately to come to town, this is my first time," Edward replied, he tried to be excited about it. Barny, as his friends called him, smiled.

"Your brother likes these lollipops, you bring one to him, okay?" the old man handed a green lollipop with white a white striped to Edward, along with a red one; "Don't ruin your dinner," he chuckled.

"Thank you sir, I shant," Edward promised as he pocketed the treats. Greed paid for their groceries while Barny informed him of the barn party that was going to happen that Saturday. But, the conversation changed quickly.

"Did you hear about the passing of Gage Forest? Not that we're complainin' mind ya," he whistled, "But, ya see, the way in which he was killed is very strange. Like a wild animal got into his place. And mind you, we don't get that a lot, but every once in a while…" he shrugged then.

"I'll keep a watch out," Greed said. Barny nodded.

"What with two young kids, and one without an arm, I'd keep a gun handy, Green," Barny said seriously.

"I do, I do," Greed smiled. Then he and Edward stepped out and onto the wooden side walk.

"Let's get you a few more books, I'm sure your bored while Jelly is at school," Greed said. The book store smelled musty and layers of dust lined the shelves. Edward could tell that not a lot of people came in here, maybe they didn't like books.

"How many can I get?" Edward asked.

"I think Five should do it," Greed replied. Edward nodded. A list in his head came to the fore front as he made his way to the Alchemy shelf. He picked out "Homunculi and their Inner Workings" by a Dr. H.G. Wells. He hadn't had the time to read it back in Central. He had found the other, hand written, book on Human Reverse Transmutation. No where did it say that he could make his brother into a Homunculi. It hadn't crossed his mind, he knew, because he hadn't read that. If only he had copied the needed pages to recheck his thesis.

Going through the shelves, he found another book "The Gate of Truth" - so, he hummed, he hadn't been the only one….He found three other books with information he thought he could use, or at least, get a basis for something, and added them to the pile. Greed whistled as he looked at the titles.

"You must be annoying to have around older Alchemists," he said.

"I don't know, I do everything on my own, mostly," Edward shrugged. Greed paid for the books and they returned to the gas station. The red truck was still being worked on, but the attendant had another, rust coloured truck, that had been abandoned and allowed them to take it home. It ran better than the red truck ever had and Edward could tell that Greed liked it better.

"So, what do you think of Gefallen?" Greed asked.

"It's small, and more boring than Resembool," Edward replied.

"What do you plan on doing with those books?"

"I plan to bring Alphonse back into charge of the body I made for him," Edward replied.

"How did you do that, anyway?" Greed couldn't help the curiosity.

"The components of a human body are cheap and can be found easily at the market. I used it as a base. I put in strands of my own hair and some copper from Alphonse hair, his was copper because he took after Mum a lot more than the Bastard who volunteered his sperm," Edward growled that last about his father, Greed didn't want to go into that, he had a feeling that Edward would just stop talking then.

"Anyway, I had to transfer his soul, so I made the blood seal, in my won blood, on a piece of paper and placed it with the ingredients for the body. I guess that I had blacked out or something….when I did wake…I was in your home, and Alphonse…wasn't Alphonse…"

- - -

"Your back!"

The growl made the other giggle, he went on playing with the blocks. He didn't know why he was making castles or bridges and then knocking them down. He remembered playing with some old blocks as a child - it had been fun, and it was nice to revisit those memories.

"I've always been here!" Alphonse replied.

"I don't want you here!" Jealousy stomped his foot.

"Wow, you are getting to be quite a brat, but then again, I suppose it is in your nature," Alphonse rolled his light blue eyes to the ceiling of his bedroom. The room had two beds, one Alphonse had said was for Edward, who was gone but would soon return to him. He had alchemy books place in alphabetical order on the single short, book shelf.

Jealousy hated the room, it was sunny, cheerful, and full of that stupid humming sound Alphonse always made. As opposed to his own room in this soul that he shared, it was dark, and he had nothing to play with.

"I want you to leave,"

"I can't, Edward needs me," Alphonse replied.

"What about me! Aren't I needed?"

"Yes,"

He reached out to slap the smile on Alphonse's face.

- - -

"Martel, we're home!" Edward called out, he carried the single bag of groceries while Greed brought in his books. They found Martel in the kitchen, sipping at some coffee.

"Here, Edward, why don't you start on your research," Greed handed the books to Edward who left the groceries on the table and quickly exited the kitchen for the quiet of his bed room.

Greed started to empty the bag; "Honey, what's wrong?"

"Jelly, he said….he said that he had hit Alphonse because the other wouldn't give up the body," Martel replied.

"What?"

"It was so weird, he just stopped, stock still, in the middle of his colouring. I tried to get his attention, but it wasn't until twenty-five minutes later that he came to himself, mad as hell. He ripped up his papers and threw his crayons, told me he had hit Alphonse because the other didn't want him, and ran up to his bedroom," Martel set her coffee cup down and got to her feet. She began to put the groceries away while Greed thought it through.

"Edward told me how he was able to make the body for Alphonse, and how he transferred the soul. Maybe he is right, that Alphonse is in there and that our sweet little Jelly is the parasite," Greed said.

"Is he going to kill Jelly? He is demanding for a child but…I've grown to love him," Martel sniffed, she couldn't help her tears and Greed took her gently into his arms.

"I'll ask Edward what he thinks about this," Greed whispered, "We may lose Jelly but he wasn't supposed to be here in the first place, he stole the body from Alphonse who has spent years in that armor body, I think that Alphonse deserves to live, to breathe, to eat, to sing, to dance, to be happy,"

"I do, as well, I guess we might lose Jelly but…"

"Edward needs him, he isn't himself without Alphonse,"

"Yes," Martel agreed.

- - -

He stared at the floor, tears blinding his light purple eyes. Alphonse had lied, he wasn't needed. He wasn't….he wasn't….wanted….he wasn't supposed to be there. He knew that, but still, it hurt.

His heart had never hurt before.

That is what is called "caring".

Shut up!

No, you have to understand.

He didn't and he didn't want to either.

- - -

He was surprised by the sudden pain at the back of his head. He fell to the floor with a loud thunk. Stars twinkled in his line of site as he looked up at a pissed off Jealousy.

"I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK! I LIKE IT HERE AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME GIVE UP THIS BODY! YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T!"

Edward's reflexes came alive as the bat came down he was able to jump out of the way. Despite the fact that he was one armed, he got past Jealousy's defenses and punched the younger boy. Jealousy lost his grip in the bat as he stumbled backwards.

"What the hell is going on here!?"

They ignored Greed, who had run up as soon as he had heard the yelling.

"YOU TOOK SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO YOU!" Edward pointed at Jealousy, "THAT BODY BELONGS TO ALPHONSE! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"NO! I DON'T! I WANT TO STAY HERE AND BE LOVED! I WANT TO BE NEEDED AND I WANT SOME ONE TO WANT ME!" Jealousy cried. Streaks of black ran down his cheeks.

"You are wanted," he wasn't yelling, but he was pissed, "Martel and Greed love you, don't you see? I wasn't going to kill you off or anything, I think I found another way, a way to give you what you want and me what I want, but…the equivalent exchange….may be a problem,"

"You'll…find me my own body? So that I can stay and be happy with Mummy and Daddy?"

"Yeah, something like that," Edward nodded.

Jealousy ran to him and gave him a hug around the middle.

"Thank you, big brother!"

"No problem, Little Brother Number Two," Edward replied gently.

- - -

A/N - Ack, it may almost be over….well….not really. Who am I kidding? I guess my plan may be simple and you have all ready seen it. But, it will be interesting to see play out anyway. Did anyone get the title? instead of batman I mix Bat with Ed and it came out Batward! *lol*