PART TWO:

"You should get some sleep Roy." Riza said in hushed tones as they returned to the infirmary. It was nearing eleven in the evening and most of the patients, not that there were that many here now, were sleeping.

He smirked, thinking she should take her own advice, she looked like hell but there was no way he'd ever voice that aloud. "I will; I just want to let them know I'm back. I thought I'd sleep in Lily's bed tonight since she's moved to Edward's bed." He replied. He didn't know what he was going to tell the boys. They hadn't found Hohenheim and that had him more than a little worried. But he was exhausted and desperately wanted to crawl into a bed and get a few good hours before he went looking for their father again. "You and Maes should go home and get some rest too. I'll call if there are any changes."

"Make sure you do," Riza said as they entered the waiting room. Maes sat reading a book and looked up, pushing his glasses up further upon his nose.

"So I take it you didn't find him?"

"No," Riza replied.

"Well that's because he came back."

Well at least there was that. "When?" Roy asked.

"About two hours ago, not too long after you left. He's in the room with them and I haven't bothered them since he asked to have a little time alone. He even asked the staff if they'd give him awhile."

Roy nodded and sat down in one of the chairs. He let out a long weary sigh and let his muscles relax. His neck was tight as was his back and he'd love nothing more than a nice hot shower and to sleep in his own bed or a bed for that matter. Hell he was half tempted to lay out on the floor but Lily would no doubt wake him and make up get up if she saw.

"Alright then," He would allow the man some time as well, he was after all the man who'd sired the boys and Lily's teacher. Just because he'd been gone for a little bit didn't mean he couldn't have a little time with them to himself.

"Well I will be heading home now. I will be back in the morning." Riza said.

"Good night, be careful." Maes and Roy said in unison. Riza smiled as they smirked at each other and said good night before leaving.

Roy was almost asleep after arguing with Maes to go home and losing when he heard a clatter down the hall, someone calling for help, and hurried footsteps. Maes prodded him and they both rose as a nurse upon the night staff burst into the waiting room with a bewildered expression upon her face, panting. "Sirs, Mr. Elric… he's dead."

"What?!" Maes demanded. "How?"

Dead? How was that… Oh no, what a horrible time to die. Al needed him and Edward did too though he'd never admit it. The man just couldn't be dead, he couldn't. He had to be asleep and…

The nurse seemed to be at a loss. "We don't know yet, Darcy just went to check on Edward and Lily and found him lying upon the floor. There's a strange boy in the room, sleeping on the floor with no clothes, the boy in armor is gone-"

She didn't have to say anymore, Maes and Roy were running down the hall, both unnerved, both curious, and worried.

The medical staff was rolling Hohenheim out of the room just as they reached it. "I want to know the cause," Roy ordered before entering to find just what the nurse had reported, only there were two nurses inside, one checking Edward and Lily and another shaking the unnamed boy awake, trying to wrap him in a blanket.

Roy's eyes searched for the suit of armor but found nothing and something inside his chest told him the unclad boy with short brown hair was Alphonse. But… How was that possible?

"Hey didn't this boy have auto-mail?" The woman looking Edward over asked with bewilderment. "I could have sworn Dr. Hiasen put in an order that we make sure it was oiled and moving properly."

Roy turned to her. "Edward does have auto-mail, his right arm and left leg." Auto-mail just didn't disappear. The woman lifted Ed's right arm revealing flesh then the blanket and his left leg was flesh as well.

"Mom?" Al's sleepy voice asked. "Mom its cold,"

"Good god," Maes breathed. "It's Al,"

For a moment Roy just stood there, looking back and forth between the two boys barely breathing. He only knew of one thing that could make this happen and how Hohenheim… Did he leave to make the stone? Had he known how all this time, knowing his sons were in a desperate search to find it and restore their bodies? And if that were true why didn't he make it before hand and give it to them? Why make them… But that didn't make sense, the stone was supposed to allow alchemists to bypass all the laws of equivalency, to gain without sacrifice so why was Hohenheim dead?

"Its cold… ITS COLD?!" Alphonse shouted, jolting awake. The nurse hurriedly covered him in the blanket. Al's brown eyes looked around frantically. "How is that…" he looked down at his hands then pressed his hands to his chest, face, and neck. "I can feel…"

Roy forced all of his questions aside and went to Alphonse. It was so strange, he thought he might never see the boys face and reached out to touch him, ascertain if he were truly back in his body. The boy's skin was warm, soft, just like Edward's and he looked like Ed, a little different but it was clear they were related though Al had more of a baby face. "Alphonse,"

Al blinked up at him then pushed his hand away and ran over to the bed, nearly dropping the blanket. He pushed passed the startled nurses and pulled the blanket back from Edward, beginning to cry as he touched Ed's arm. "They're here, but how?" His eyes met Roy's. "How is this possible?"

"Why don't we get you into some clothes?" A nurse asked with confusion.

"I'll get some," the other replied and left.

It was really him, it was truly Alphonse. "Did you do this Roy?" Al asked.

Roy shook his head. He waited until the nurse came back with something for Alphonse to wear, common hospital attire, noting he'd need to get Al some clothes of his own very soon. It was so surreal, a miracle, but with what cost?

"Maes could you?"

Maes nodded and ushered the nurses out, asking if they could take him to Hohenheim and closed the door. He didn't have to tell Maes to make sure they kept quiet.

Al caught his father's name and gasped. "H-he did this?"

"It appears so, Al…"

Al sunk to the floor, dropping the clothes. "Dad restored us, he must have had or made the stone, but why didn't he tell us?" Suddenly his head snapped up. "I want to see him; I have to talk to him!"

Roy sighed and went to him, knelt. "Al," How did one tell…? He'd told people their family had been murdered or died before and every time, just like now it, it was difficult. He didn't want to see Alphonse cry, didn't want to hurt him but he knew lying to him would damage him. "I'm so sorry,"

It was all he needed to say, Al guessed just from those words. His bottom lip quivered slightly and suddenly he was in Roy's arms sobbing, clinging. Roy held him for a long time then helped him get dressed and aided him into Lily's bed, tucking him in. He wasn't going to get any sleep tonight but he didn't mourn its loss for he needed to be with Al, be here when Edward awoke. Lily would be upset as well from losing her Teacher.

"Don't go," Al whimpered, reaching for his hand.

Roy shook his head with the silent promise he wouldn't leave him and sat in the chair, letting the minutes tick away, listening to Al's quiet sobs. He couldn't help but to comfort Al, or at least try too, rubbing his shoulder and back.

"Why? Why? It was our… Dad…"

Seeing Alphonse cry with his own tears, his own face, his own eyes was painful for The Flame Alchemist. He was loathed to see the boy cry but couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, of happiness to finally see him in the flesh. Al and Ed's bodies returned to normal mean they wouldn't have to search for the stone anymore. They could have normal lives, not be hampered by metal weighing them down, could grow up, even go to school and come home in the evenings to dinner and quiet things. They wouldn't have to be in danger.

He felt a heavy pang of guilt for this relief. They had obtained this in the worst of ways.

Roy wondered if he'd ever find anyone half as kind and perfect to tutor Lily. Probably not. No one would ever be able to replace Hohenheim let alone measure up. And though the thought had entered his mind, adopting Edward and Alphonse and making them his own legally, he knew he could never replace their real father. He could be a second father to them, love and care for them as if they were really his own, just like he had and that was alright, but losing one's true father was heartbreaking. He knew because he'd lost his own.

Alphonse cried himself to sleep, the first real sleep he'd had in two years.

It was nearing morning and Roy was wondering how he was going to explain all of this if asked by his superiors. Al was at least two feet shorter than his previous metal body. Hakuro would ask where that had gone, where Ed's auto-mail had vanished too. He wouldn't let them say the boys had committed a taboo and preformed human transmutation. Al might be explained a little easier since most people had seemed dumb to the fact that the armor had been empty. He could say it was Hohenheim's doing and he wouldn't be lying.

Maes opened the door and called to him.

Roy pulled his hand from Al's and left the room quietly to be greeted by Dr. Hiasen. Maes closed the door behind them and sighed.

"Sorry to bother you Colonel." Hiasen said quietly. "I've reviewed Mr. Elric's autopsy, saw his body myself as soon as I was called in…" The man frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just don't understand how it's possible. Nearly all of his internal organs are missing and those that were left, his heart for example had failed him. There were places all over his body where his very skin was in decay, showed signs of being in that state for some time. No one could have possibly lived like that. I really don't know what to make of it honestly."

Roy rubbed his face. Now that was something he knew he wouldn't be able to explain to Central. What was he supposed to say? Hohenheim made a mythical cure all and used it to restore his sons and it killed him? Sure people would believe that. They'd want to see the stone and as far as Roy knew… "Did he have anything in his hands?"

Dr. Hiasen shook his head. "No, nothing,"

Even better, with no proof of the stone actually in existence would make this harder. And even if they did have it the higher ups would want it for god only knew what. They'd had incomplete ones before and Roy knew well what they'd used them for. He wouldn't let the military take that route again so perhaps it was best that the stone was gone; maybe it had been used up. Restoring Alphonse to his body, Edward's limbs couldn't have been an easy transmutation.

Good grief he was exhausted, needed to sleep, needed time to sort all of this out, collect his thoughts and plan a course of action. "Don't say anything to anyone, tell your mortician not to say a word either, your staff as well. I'll handle it, just give me sometime."

Dr. Hiasen hesitated but nodded just the same. "Yes sir."

Ed rolled over in bed, rolled atop someone else who whimpered in their sleep. He sighed and moved, opening his eyes and smiled. It was Lily and she'd not awakened, just frowned in her sleep obviously perturbed at being squished for a moment.

He yawned and stretched as carefully as he could just so he wouldn't disturb her then smoothed her hair out of her face with his right hand, then just as he touched her he remembered not too with his auto-mail because her hair might get caught in it and… Ed blinked, staring at his hand. Auto-mail… there was no auto-mail but veins, muscles, and bones beneath pale flesh. Was this a dream?

He bolted up in bed, looking around and the absence of pain frightened him and jolted him out of his groggy, morning haze. He should be in immense pain; he'd not been able to really move before. Throwing the blanket back he felt his left leg, pulled his hospital pants up. It was real as well.

Looking around the room he checked to see if her was even still in the hospital for at first he'd thought he was at home. He was and then his eyes fell upon a sight he thought he might never see. Alphonse…

"Alphonse…" He breathed. "AL!" He was out of the bed and at Al's side in mere seconds, shaking his little brother. "Al!" How was this… Was it really dream or real?! He was so confused but Al was here, Al was back in his body, his limbs were back, he wasn't in any pain.

Al stirred and opened his eyes and Edward wept with mystified joy. "Brother?"

"Al look," Ed said lifting his hand. Then he lifted Al's hands. "Look you're here, you're here!" Forget how it was possible, his little brother was back in his body. He let his hands slide up his brother's arms to his neck and face. "You're so warm!" Then he embraced him, sobbing into his shoulder.

"You are too brother," Al replied softly, sadly, returning the embrace.

"What's going on?" A sleepy sweet voice asked from behind.

Ed pulled away with a face cracking smile. Finally, she'd get to see what Alphonse looked like! She'd get to see his smile. "Lily! Look Al's back in his body!"

Lily rubbed her slanted black eyes as she sat up. "But Al's always had a body big brother." She yawned.

She wasn't completely awake yet, time to fix that. Ed hurriedly caught her up and placed her upon Al's bed, lifting her small hands to his face. "No, his flesh body, isn't it great?! Feel how warm he is? Feel how soft his skin is?"

Lily nodded sleepily and curled up against Al's side, hugging him with her little arms. Her eyes closed and Edward just couldn't have that at a time like this. He wanted to tell everyone his little brother was back, wanted to tell Roy because he knew Roy would be happy too, not as happy as he was, but happy none the less. He tried to shake her but she pushed his hand away, mumbling in annoyance.

"Ed I have to tell you something," Al said miserably.

Ed frowned, trying to still his excitement. "You sound unhappy, isn't this what you wanted?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then what's wrong? I have to call Winry; she'll want to see you. I bet she'll make a cake since you couldn't eat for your last two birthdays. And I'll take you to that restaurant we ate at where Mrs. Kelly works, oh and I'll get you some Xingan food. You said you wanted to try it."

"Edward, stop…" Al interrupted. Ed didn't get it, why wasn't his brother as thrilled as he was? "We… we can do all those things later but I have to tell you something…"

Ed sensed a terrible, ghastly, dark rain cloud coming to flood out his parade. "Al?"

"It's Dad…he's… he's gone."

For a long time the room was silent, only Lily's even breathing signifying that she was once again asleep, filled the void and his heart beat thudding in his ears. "What?" He breathed.

"Dad restored us and he's gone." Al whispered quietly, painfully.

Edward backed away, tripping over his own feet, and fell to the cold linoleum floor. "Hohenheim…" But why? How? He was really, truly gone this time, for good? But… but… Edward looked at his trembling hands. His father had done this for them? His real father was… dead? But he didn't ask, he didn't want help in fixing his mistake! It wasn't his place and it wasn't his right! It wasn't fair! It wasn't…

Why did he have to die? He was supposed to stay, he'd promised him. No, Ed didn't like him, had felt betrayed, but there was still a place inside of him that loved him and wanted him to be around.

He clenched his fists and eyes, trying to stop the tears but they came anyway. He didn't want to cry but he couldn't help it. And his crying, soon joined with Al's woke Lily again. Bless her she was at a loss for what to do and tried to make them feel better, hugged them, kissed their cheeks, made Ed get on the bed with her and Al so she could hold their hands even though she didn't know what was wrong.

Then when they told her she wept too, sandwiched in between them in a hug. "I don't understand. Teacher was okay last time I saw him, he said we'd practice more alchemy and was smiling, said to tell you he said goodnight."

Ed swallowed. "I don't get it either," Only he could take a wild guess but even then he didn't really understand. He wanted to know how his birth father had died, what the cause was. Putting it all together in his head spelled the stone, that was the only way he and Al could have obtained their bodies, but the stone was supposed to make an alchemist by pass the laws. Was their father just too weak to pull it off and stay alive a little longer?

Sometime later after all three of them had calmed down enough, ceased crying for a bit Roy entered, knocking first. He seemed surprised to see them sitting up. His surprise melted away quickly with understanding and sadness and he closed the door quietly behind him. "Edward what are you doing out of bed?"

"I don't hurt at all, guess that was fixed too…"

Ed wanted to leap from the bed and demand answers but Roy simply took the chair and folded his hands in his lap. "You know then..."

"H-how?" Ed chanced.

"I've asked myself the same question." Roy replied and his tired black eyes met Lily's. He must want her to be absent for this, not want her to hear.

"I'm not leaving Daddy," Lily whispered.

"He was her teacher," Al reasoned. "Her friend."

Roy nodded taking a deep breath. "I think we know the alchemic part of it except that I don't think even the stone can really by pass the laws, not with…"

"What did it take?" Ed asked timidly. "Is there anything… Please Dad, t-tell me. He was my Dad."

"Most of his internal organs, those left failed." Roy replied bitterly. "I talked to the nurse who found him, she said he was smiling."

"But why didn't we wake up?" Al asked. "I don't understand. I have my body, Ed has his limbs and he's moving as if nothing ever happened to him at all."

"I can't answer that because I don't know. None of the hospital staff saw or heard anything and…" Roy sighed. "Maes is working to keep it quiet and I think I've got enough hold here now to keep it that way… Dr. Hiasen wants to look all three of you over." He finished softly, grimly. "I'm so sorry Edward, Alphonse; maybe if I had been here instead of out looking for him he'd still be alive."

"Maybe not, he always did what he wanted." Ed bit. "No matter how it affected anyone else."