IT'S NOT MY FAULT! THE DAMN COMPUTER WOULDN'T LET ME UPLOAD! DON'T KILL ME WITH A MACHETE! Now that that's over with, a few words from my fabulous editor, Ninja Squirrels.

Damn you! Why are you making me write this? I have absolutely nothing to say, you mangy cur.

Gee thanks. I feel so loved. Yah, that's about it. OH! Morton's Very Evil Monkey Just Stabbed Uncle Norris! That is all.

Disclaimer: thou shalt not steal the ownership of FMA or HP, for thou art an idiot, and obsessed with anime. (that applies to me… and my muse. Kate: HEY! I am not an idiot! A tad bit homicidal perhaps, but not an idiot! Me: sure……)

Last chapter: Ed met with the Order, and Mad Eye Moody put him in control of the security during the wedding and the reception.

Ed got up an hour before his guard duty, making sure that all the aurors at his disposal knew a) what to do when things start blowing up around you (and knowing Envy they probably would be) b) to be careful to check that everyone is really who they say they are because the enemy can shape-shift c) if they fell asleep on the job he would make their lives a living hell, and d) if he heard someone call him a pint-sized bean sprout one more time they would wish they were lucky enough to have the same fate as the guy who fell asleep on the job (no one was brave enough to tell the fuming blond that nobody had said such a thing, all agreeing he was just as scary as Moody, if not more so). After that was finished he stationed everyone strategically around the perimeter, placed four inside the walls, and took his place by the front gate with the auror he had chosen to take guard with him, named Jared. Ed quickly found out he wasn't the quickest thinking one of the bunch. More brawn than brain, and that was saying something as the man was about as strong as Fury or Havoc. At least they could be counted on in a tough situation. This guy he wasn't too sure of. If he did end up in a battle with Envy instead of more Death Eaters, he thought, he would just knock Jared out. That way he couldn't get in his way. With that in mind Ed settled down for one heck of a long night.

------I love fudge-----the food/candy stuff------not the fat guy from HP---------

The wedding had come and gone. They had all gone back to the Weasley house for a few hours before the reception started. That had started about an hour ago. Ed was bored out of his mind. After a while he just started letting his mind drift off in reflection on the dreams he had had the previous night (though he made sure to keep his mind clear enough so as not to be caught off guard by Envy or any Death Eaters, or worse still, both). He thought of his brother for a long time, wondering if he had managed to get away from the remaining homunculi. Ed couldn't help but feel guilty for not only abandoning his brother again and leaving him in such a dangerous situation, but also because he had hardly thought about him at all recently, and when he had it was only during his nightmares. He grimaced slightly and told himself not to think about that as he shifted his thoughts to Winry. It seemed strange that only a little over a week ago he had been in Rizumbul with her. He smiled fondly as he recalled that night, reliving it in his mind.

It was almost seven at night in the quiet town where Ed had grown up during the only childhood he had known. He had started making a habit of stopping by at least once a month since he had come back from Germany, both to re-visit his mother's grave, and to visit Winry. This particular night he had gone off without Al. He had been gone for almost three hours now, reflecting over recent events and staring down at his own grave. The Rockbells had put it here once he had been gone for over two years. Although they were some of the very few people who knew what Ed's fate had been, they hadn't given up their hope, not even after putting in a tombstone to mark his empty grave that sat next to his mother's. He was lost in thought when a small, delicate, but strong hand had laid itself softly on his shoulder. He stiffened and whirled around quickly, automail arm flashing in the light of the sun that had almost set, expecting to see an enemy. He calmed when he caught sight of the blond ponytail and soft, searching sky-blue eyes.

"Oh, Winry. It's you. I didn't hear you coming."

"Granny started wondering where you were after a while and sent me to get you," she lied. The truth was she had been worrying about him ever since he hadn't come back for dinner, but Pinako had told her to wait an hour or two for him, and she had grudgingly agreed, though she left as soon as she got a chance.

"I see." Ed said, before they both fell silent for a few minutes, staring at the two graves together.

"Winry, I…" Ed started, turning around to face her, but catching himself as he caught her eyes, only a few feet from his.

"Yes, what is it, Ed?" she asked, seeing his hesitation, but not knowing why. He took a deep breath to steady himself before continuing.

"When… when I was on the other side of the Gate, I had a lot of time to think," He started, not quite sure how to say what he was trying to tell her. She stood there, listening intently with the same look in her eyes as when she worked on his automail. This was the first time he had talked about the other side since he had gotten back, so she waited for him to continue. "I thought a lot about everyone back here at home. Al, Pinako, Old Den, but the person I missed the most was… well, it was you. Winry, I… I love you." He said softly, letting all his barriers down and looking at her in such honesty and passion that her breath was caught in her throat. For as long as she could remember he had never been that straight-forward at saying things, and usually the only time they talked, ever since he left home when he was eleven, was when they were fighting, but what was the most amazing was that she had just heard him tell her that he felt the same way about her as she had felt about him for years.

"Oh, Ed! I love you too!" she said, wrapping her arms around him, trying to convince herself this was all real, not just another of those wonderful dreams she would sometimes have. Ed stiffened for a moment at the sudden contact, but soon relaxed himself into her embrace, hugging back. "I've been waiting so long for you to say that. Ever since you went to save me from Barry the Chopper, I knew I wanted to be able to comfort you like Al could, that you would come to me and tell me what you were feeling, but you never did, Ed, you never did!" Winry said, sobbing slightly as she buried her face into Ed's chest. "After that the only times I would see you were when you came back to get your automail fixed, which meant you must have gotten hurt, but you would never tell me! I was always so worried about you and then the next thing I knew I was told you were dead! And I never even got to say goodbye! And… and now…" she said, suddenly finding herself confessing all her hidden fears and worries for the past six years.

"I'm sorry, Winry. I never meant to hurt you," Ed said, pulling her closer, letting her long, golden hair slide over his arms as he held her, wishing he could stay with her like that forever. But that was impossible with his current occupation, and after so many years serving the military, he couldn't ever imagine doing anything else.

"Just promise me one thing, Edward." Winry said firmly, not moving from his arms.

"Anything."

"Promise me you'll come back to me."

"I promise," He said firmly, but lovingly as they walked back to the Rockbell house together, holding hands.

All he could think about now was that he had broken that promise, and his promise to always be there for his brother, and he hated himself for it. But he was forcefully jerked out of his thoughts at the sound of Jared calling out into the dark woods that lay just beyond the Gardens.

"Who's out there!" he demanded. Ed scoffed. As if anyone who was an enemy would actually answer that truthfully. To his surprise, someone did answer, and what he heard shocked him.

"Ed? Ed is that you? It's me! Winry!"

"W—Winry?" stuttered Ed in disbelief. It couldn't be! She was still on the other side of the gate! Unless…

A figure emerged from the darkness, the silvery moon that hung above them lighting her hair like a soft golden candle, her eyes shining like diamonds…no, that was his imagination. Those were not her eyes. They lacked all the brilliance of her soul as well as the sharpness that mirrored her sharpness of mind, and even sharper tongue. He narrowed his eyes.

"Cut the act, Envy!" he shouted angrily.

"Envy? Isn't that the homunculus you told us about? Is he here too?" asked Winry, concern evident in her voice as she continued to move towards him. Jared stood back, watching her procession in complete and utter confusion.

"Yes, he is. He's going by the name, 'Voldemort' now. Some hell of a name, huh? Amazing how close it sounds to 'Moldywart,' isn't it?" he said, smirking openly at his quickly developed plan to find the truth. Envy had always been a show-off, and didn't react well to criticism, especially when it came from the son of his hated father and creator. If it was really Winry, then she would probably laugh or throw a wrench at him, but if it was Envy…

Just as he had expected.

"Oh yeah!" Winry retorted as her form started to shift and mold into that of Envy's, green hair springing from the formerly blond ponytail, which also disappeared. "Well at least I'm not a midget-sized chibi!"… or not.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BUG SO SMALL HE'D DROWN IN A DROP OF WATER!" Ed ranted, not even bothering to restrain himself from a flurry of punches aimed at the enraged homunculus's face.

"Good idea!" Envy exclaimed, a rather large bucket of water appearing in his hands. Before Ed could dodge the incoming attack, the wave of water was tossed out of the bucket, thoroughly drenching him.

"You bastard!" Ed screamed, not even bothering to dry himself off as he quickly took off his drenched shirt so it couldn't impede his speed (a/n: hehe… inside joke…)

"I'll help you Mr. Elric, sir!" shouted Jared as he took out his wand.

"Don't even think about it! He's mine!" an enraged Ed declared, smacking Jared against the wall and knocking him unconscious so he couldn't call for backup. Ed had a score to settle with the homunculus, and the Gate would be free of charge before he let Envy get away from him.

Envy leapt agilely over the tall brick wall, heading towards the reception. Ed just transmuted a hole going right through it. He leapt over bushes and flowers, dodged numerous trees (all the while cursing his luck and reminding himself to make a more convenient path through there once he was through with Envy) while he followed the flash of movement he knew to be his enemy. Suddenly, he was freed from the jungle that was the Gardens, and directly in front of him stood his opponent.

"Finally ready to fight instead of run away?" Ed said scathingly.

"Who ever said I was running away? I just thought you would appreciate a more open battle ground."

"Let's cut the bullshit and get down to the fighting, you overgrown palm tree."

"Gladly." Envy said, his arm forming into a spear as Ed transmuted his arm into the familiar blade, guaranteeing that a blow would do more than knock a little air out of the opponent's lungs. Ed made the first move, springing up into the air and spinning around to land his left foot into the homunculus's face, making sure to avoid the spike that was his arm as he did a back flip and landed behind Envy.

"Just curious, how do you intend to kill me? After all, you do of course realize I'll be harder to get rid of than Greed or Lust," Envy pointed out as he dropkicked the blond alchemist.

"I'll get to that when I feel like it! For now I just wanna kick your ass!" Ed said, jumping back to avoid the leg that shot out at him. Envy pursued him, giving an uppercut to the boy's chin, which wasn't missed by more than a quarter of an inch.

"Is that so? Well, good luck with that!" Envy sneered, following his first punch with another. This one didn't miss its mark, and it sent Ed flying backward. Ed skidded across the brick on his back, ignoring the pain as he quickly rolled over to avoid a kick to the face and clapped his hands, transmuting a spike which pinned Envy to a nearby tree as it pierced his stomach. Blood leaked out of Envy's mouth as he smirked.

"Very impressive, but still not enough I'm afraid," he said, licking his own blood off his lips for a moment, as if savoring the taste, before he slammed his arm down into the spike, breaking it in one blow. Slowly Envy drew the spike out of his body and looked at it for a moment, resembling an art collector musing over a fine piece he is considering buying. In a flash the spike was out of his hands and heading straight for Ed.

"Oh shit!" Ed cursed, dodging it as he jumped backwards and over to his left, into another grove of bushes and trees. He quickly decided to look for another clearing for the fighting, not having any intention of going back and walking towards the one who wanted to kill him. He would follow anyway.

Sure enough Envy came crashing through behind him.

"Come back, little chibi! We're not done with our fight just yet!"

"NO SHIT SHERLOCK!" Ed fumed, using his sword arm to attack Envy, who blocked the blade with his own arm, which was incredibly hard considering it should have been flesh. Envy pushed with extra force, causing Ed to jump back to avoid having his stomach sliced open. The two became so engrossed in their battle they didn't even notice when the clearing started getting closer, people walking around having light conversation as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Well, at least until they were abruptly interrupted as the two came crashing out into the open.

"Come now, Ed. Is this any way to treat your own brother?" Envy asked, shifting to his 'real face,' hoping to unnerve the blond.

"You may have been my father's son, but that sure as hell doesn't make you my brother!" Ed shouted, slashing at the man's face, which healed instantly as the face changed to that of Alphonse, just the way he had looked before Ed had gone through the gate with Envy.

"Yet you had no problem sacrificing your own brother, or leaving him to die back there when he needed you most. You certainly aren't a very good sibling, are you? Chasing off your own father, condemning your mother to live the life of a soulless minion under Dante's control, and abandoning your precious Winry. You have to admit, your track record's not that great either." Envy said nonchalantly as he stared at a temporarily immobile Ed, who was so overcome with guilt and loss he had become lost in himself, only coming back to life as Envy's spiked arm drove into the flesh above his shoulder, ripping a large gash across it which immediately started bleeding.

"You stay out of it! And stop talking like you know what it's like! You have no idea what I've been through!"

"Oh, quite on the contrary Edward," Envy said, stepping to the side to dodge a right punch from Ed's bladed arm, and then jumping back to avoid a roundhouse kick made out of desperation. "I probably understand you better than anyone else does."

"Shut up!" Ed said viciously, pulling a gun out from a side pocket of his pants and firing a round directly into the homunculus's head. The wounds took about thirty seconds to heal, though it seemed like an eternity. By now a large group had assembled to watch what was going on. Everyone was horrified and sickened by the sight, but at the same time, no one could manage to make themselves turn away. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were included in the group, and though they, like several others, wanted to help Ed, they knew this was something he would want to do on his own. None of them though, were prepared for the reaction the next face provoked out of Ed.

"Mom…" he said, sinking down to his knees, wincing in pain slightly as the hard brick ground connected firmly with his scraped-up knee. "No, no you can't be her! She's already dead! And I killed her. You're just using your twisted mind games to GET TO ME AGAIN!" Ed shouted, getting back up again and charging at Envy, "I told you never to do that again, damn it!" the cry went out as Envy was once again impaled, only this time by Ed's own outstretched right arm, blood flowing down the cold metal and staining the skin around his arm red.

"So you did, but I'm the older brother." Envy said simply as he smirked, then disappeared with a loud crack.

"YOU'RE NOT MY BROTHER!" Ed's voice rang out, piercing the silence of the dark night with a voice so sharp with pain and laced with anger that even after the sound of it was muffled by the foliage and died away, the words still seemed to be hanging there, even though the man they had been directed at was long gone. Finally, the trio stepped up to their friend as Ron placed a hand on Ed's right shoulder, the one with-out the large gash, trying to ignore that he was still touching Envy's blood.

"Ed, he's gone now." Those four words soothed Ed's mind; though he was still far from the point of accepting of what had just happened, he knew that at least he had friends to help him though it. However, he also knew that if they were there now, they had probably heard the accusations Envy had thrown at him, which would mean they would ask him to explain sooner or later, but they would wait. At least until the wounds, both mental and physical, weren't quite so fresh.

A/N: All of you out in Readerland – Review, review, review! Otherwise she will sic her legions of Furby Mountie Ninja Assassins, armed with umbrellas and cheese graters on you! Don't laugh! I've seen her do it!

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