My memory is fried from my pills so I can't remember when the last chapter was put out. If this is late I do apologize, I also am sorry this chapter is so short. Lack of motivation and inspiration are killing my writing. The next chapter will probably be this long as well and I have no clue when that will be uploaded, I really am trying my hardest to get these out in a timely fashion but personal issues keep getting in the way.

Little thing that may hinder the progress of this story: I'm going to be switching my medications as soon as possible so I can remember things again. The new med will take a few weeks to kick in and I'm probably going to go onto it in the middle of the month. So for that time chapters will probably be delayed because of massive personal issues that will arise with this decision. Also there will be blood work on my end for this so that will cut into it even more. I'm sorry to inconvenience anyone but I NEED to do this for my sanity.

On a lighter note this story will soon be over! I am planning to have at least two more chapters for this story, at the most four. I still need to think up a cohesive ending so that may also delay some things lol. But anyway this story has been so fun to write, even though I sometimes have to force myself to write it. It's not over yet though so I get to continue with this plot for a little longer. I'm going to try to make this as long an interesting as possible for you all.

Anyway, if you read all that you are awesome and deserve an award lol. I also want to thank you all for the favorites, follows, and reviews. They make me really happy!

Enjoy! :3

Chapter 25

The sun had risen higher in the sky, golden light hitting one of the walls. Mustang took a guess that it was sometime in the afternoon and, after looking at his clock, found out his hunch had been correct. He turned his head to look at the emptying IV. The blood inside was almost gone and physically Ed had made an improvement. His skin was brighter and his shaking was all but gone. He still felt colder than normal so the colonel had stayed with the boy lying in his arms. Though one thing still concerned him…

"Why hasn't he moved or made any sign of waking?" He asked, looking at the armor that sat on the ground before the two of them. Al shrugged and let go of Edward's hand as he stood.

"Physically he seems fine; maybe this is how his mind is coping with the transmutation." Alphonse said as he inspected the almost empty bottle. "Maybe he's still in some kind of shock."

"I guess that could be the case…" Mustang knew that the armor boy was worried though by the tone of his voice. What if they had done something wrong, what if they had skipped a step? Or what if Tucker's notes had a hidden warning they had disregarded.

"I'm going to put him on some fluids, maybe that will help." The armor's voice shook slightly as he looked over his brother lying limply in the colonel's arms. The poor boy was no doctor and was taking educated shots in the dark, hoping that something he had read about would work.

"I think that would help, maybe he's just dehydrated." Mustang said in a reassuring voice, hoping that it would ease a little of Alphonse's concern.

"I'll be back then, if anything happens while I'm gone please call for me." The colonel nodded and watched as the armor entered the kitchen once more. He ignored the clanging that echoed throughout the house and turned his attention back to Ed.

The boy had some color to him but was still paler than he remembered. He gently placed Edward's hand on his chest, hoping to meet any resistance. The boy's arm moved with no effort and he didn't make a noise.

With a small sigh he released Edward's hand, letting it fall gently onto the blanket tucked around his chest. It seemed like he was nothing more than a rag doll, never putting up a fight against involuntary movement. He sadly pulled Ed closer and rested his chin on his head, feeling slow breaths rattle past his neck.

Al returned with another glass bottle and tubing, this time the bottle was full of clear liquid instead of the crimson stain of blood. The armor looked at him and the colonel shook his head, receiving a sad sigh from the boy.

"If this doesn't work I don't think anything will." Alphonse knelt before both of them. He gently removed the tape and needle from Ed's hand, quickly placing a small amount of gauze onto the needle prick hole in his brother's skin. He held it there for a few seconds and then took it off.

"What if what I'm doing isn't going to work?" Al whispered as he lowered his head. Before Mustang could speak the armor stood and busied himself with the two bottles.

"None of this is your fault Alphonse. This could easily have been something I did." He spoke, feeling guilt well up inside of him. "Maybe I let the transmutation go on for too long. Maybe I waited too long to do the transmutation."

"I highly doubt that." Al replaced the old bottle with the new one. "We followed the notes to a T and gave it our all."

"But what if we missed a step?" The colonel fretting, feeling panic build up inside of him alongside the guilt. He could feel his heart racing and the room seemed to be spinning. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing on the feel of Edward's hair tickling his chin.

"We analyzed those notes so closely that it wouldn't even be a possibility." Alphonse's voice sounded slightly doubtful as if, he too, were thinking the same thing.

Mustang opened his eyes and watched as the armor knelt down once again and inserted the next needle. Again Ed didn't react and he felt tears stinging his eyes. "Maybe we should have left him as a chimera. At least then we would have known he would live."

"You don't know that for sure." Al's voice sounded so broken and tired as he taped down the needle. "We followed brother's wishes and he wanted to take the risk. He would have never been happy in that body."

Before the colonel could speak he heard a faint groan from beneath him. Instantly alert he pulled himself away from Ed and looked at him. The boy struggled slightly in his arms, flesh hand moving from his chest to latch onto the colonel's shirt collar. He let Edward fall back against his body, feeling him curl closer to him as he could make out a faint mumbled sentence. It was so faint that he wasn't sure of what it said.

"Brother?" Alphonse spoke tentatively, brushing his hand across his cheek. Ed recoiled from the cold touch and burrowed his face into the crook of Mustang's neck. The colonel smiled and looked at Alphonse with a sigh of relief.

"I think there's still hope for him yet." He said as he hugged the boy closer, feeling happy that the boy was at least showing some sign of life. Though he wouldn't be truly happy until he woke up, he felt like they had a good chance of him waking.

Al brushed his hand through Ed's hair and his soulful eyes seemed to glow brighter. "He'll wake up. I know he will, he won't give up on us yet."