"Full Metal, you did well on this." Mustang said shortly to the boy standing in his office.

Ed gritted his teeth. "What did you do to Winry?"

Mustang sighed softly, his patience running low. "I've already told you, Edward. That is not in my hands. Someone in higher power has seen to the punishment and detainment of those acting in the opposition of this case."

Ed arched a brow. That sounded odd, coming from Roy. He shrugged, sinking into a chair. His anger left him. Why should he care about the girl, she hadn't seemed to care much for them. He shook his head, his mind flashing to their youth. When had Winry quit being their friend, their sister, and became the enemy?

Mustang stood from his chair. "You seem to have a lot on your mind, Full Metal. I suggest you take a break, rest. Quit working so hard on things that are not in your hands."

Ed stood, taking the sign of dismissal.

"Brother, you didn't tell me it would hurt so much." Al whimpered, holding tightly to his brother's arm as he limped along.

Ed laughed, ruffling Al's hair. "You're the one who wanted to come to this festival."

"Mikah said he'd be here." Al glanced around for the boy. He hadn't gotten a chance to talk to him since the whole ordeal had been settled, and he missed him. Even though Mikah had originally told Al he wouldn't be here, word had gotten along that he'd changed his mind, and they'd arranged a meeting.

"Al! Ed!" The cheerful cry cut across the sharp green grass, and both boys turned to great Mikah and Jeb.

"Life treating you well?" Jeb asked, his eyes focused on Mikah, who was dragging Al along to a stand somewhere.

"Just about, something like that." Ed shrugged. "Look, Jeb, before this gets awkward, I just wanted to say-"

"I already know." Jeb shrugged. "You're sorry; you're a terrible judge of character." He grinned. "I already knew that."

Ed laughed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, I guess you said it."

Jeb dropped onto a low running wall that marked the ends of the field that the picnic was being held in.

Ed dropped beside him, kicking his legs in a mindless beat.

Jeb leaned against him lightly. "Cheer up, yea? You worried about something?"

Ed's mouth fell open but he shut it without response. How could he tell Jeb that his sudden awkwardness towards him wasn't due to bad judgment, but because he now had his little brother in a relationship he couldn't explain, and it made all their arrangements…difficult?

Jeb shrugged, and for a moment, Ed wondered if he had spoke out loud.

"You don't have to tell me." Jeb offered finally. "We're just friends, Ed, you don't have to complicate things, alright? I know that you're building this up in your head, and adding strings and making things difficult, but-"

Ed jumped off the wall. "Come on, we're at a picnic," He grinned brightly. "Let's eat!"

Jeb smiled and nodded, jumping down to follow him. "Lead on,"

"Brother," Mikah collapsed next to his brother on the couch, exhaustion eating his bones. "Today was fun, right?"

Jeb nodded. "Today was fun." He agreed. "I take it you and Al had a good time?"

"The food was so good!" Mikah's attention hardly seemed to focus on Jeb's words, but then he curled his legs under him, resting his head on Jeb's shoulder. "We can stay, right? Please say yes, brother." He tilted his head back, his eyes pleading with Jeb's.

"Yes, Mikah, we can stay. At least for now," He replied, sliding his arm around Mikah and holding him close.

"Thanks, Brother! I love you," Mikah wiggled closer, enjoying the warmth of his brother's touch.

"I love you too," Jeb pressed his lips to his brother's head, the sweet smell of his hair invading his mind. One day, I'll tell you how much.

"Brother, are you sleeping?"

"Not now," Ed sat up in the darkness, his eyes straining to see the small form in his doorway.

"Can I sleep in here?" Al whispered across the shadows, already moving towards the bed.

Ed shoved the blankets down, waiting for Al to get comfortable.

"What will we do now?" Al whispered, tugging the blankets closer to his body.

Ed stared at the ceiling, shrugging in the darkness. "We wait, I guess. Relax, wait for something else to go wrong, so the military can run to us and take control again." His voice was less bitter than expectant.

"I meant…About us,"

Ed was silent for a moment, but he rolled on his side, staring at Al in the dark. "We do what we've always done." He wrapped his arms around his brother's waist, pulling him closer to press a kiss on his lips. "We explore the forbidden."

Dun, Dun, Duuuuuh ! There it is. The ending of it all. Thanks to all the readers, reviewers, alerts, and favorites. You are all super duper. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it

Chu