They spent the rest of the afternoon, then after dinner, the rest of the evening going over the equations Al was having trouble with. He had been able to incorporate Xing's style of alchemy at a basic level but he was having difficulty trying to apply and use it for medical purposes. Edward was a little stumped but together they tried to work through it.

Al's library was quite impressive and provided them with everything they needed. He was still in contact with Mei Chan, who had long ago given up on finding immortality and decided that her clan would have to work harder to establish themselves as a strong family to be recognized by the Xing emperor. She would send notes and books to help but Al was still having problems. He knew he was losing something in the translation between the two cultures. But he was determined.

As they worked they talked, though mostly Al did the talking. He wanted to combine the two forms of alchemy but he didn't always have the time to study. He was constantly called away by either the station master for railroad problems or the foremen from the mines that were on the outskirts of Resembool. He was starting to get requests from mines as far away as Youswell and had received a letter from a mine in the west. Now that fighting had stopped, production was no longer on hold and to get the mines up and running quickly, they wanted the expertise of a talented young alchemist to help fortify the tunnels that had been damaged from the bombardments that went back and forth between Amestris and Creta.

"I think they'd rather have you," Al said putting down his pencil and rubbed his eyes sleepily. "But since you're busy they have to settle with me."

"You were always better at alchemy than me. Hell, you're better at most things than I am."

"True," Al said with a smirk agreeing a little too quickly for Edward's tastes.

"So this morning, who called you away?"

"The station master," Al said. "Normally when there are repairs needed they like to handle it themselves, just in case I'm not around and not be so dependant on an alchemist, but they were in a hurry. The morning train was coming."

"Then I should be thanking you little brother," Edward said. "That was my train."

"It was, wasn't it? I didn't realize that at the time."

"So what was wrong?"

"Metal is a hot commodity right now, with the war and the military desperate to keep their weapons plants operating non-stop. That puts a lot of stress on the mines and they try to keep up but there are some shady people who think they're doing their by providing the production plants with metal, no matter where it comes from. They'll take metal from wherever they can, even rails. Most of the rails are patrolled but there are a lot of miles to be constantly watched and the military can't spare the man power to do so and rails end up being taken. If not taken then they get pretty bent up from the attempts."

"I had no idea all that was happening."

"Well, you have other things you should be worrying about. Let us worry how we'll supply you with what you need to fight the war. You just concentrate on protecting yourself and driving out the Drachmans so we don't have to put up with this much longer."

Edward smiled. It was the first words of acceptance from his brother that he had received since leaving to fight.

"I can see your interest in incorporating Xing's alchemy," Edward said a few minutes later rubbing his eyes that were tired from reading so much. "But why go through all this trouble? What's wrong with our own?"

"Now that the original homunculus, Father, is no longer maintaining our alchemy, our real Father had to develop a way for us to keep using it. I'm just not comfortable with the idea of Amestris still sitting atop an active transmutation circle. It's been modified so it can't be activated to create a Philosopher's Stone but if someone gets wind of it and tries to do something while the whole country is occupied with the war, it wouldn't be good."

"But who is good enough to figure that out," Edward pointed out. "I understand your concern but all the best alchemists are fighting or here in Resembool."

Al smiled from the compliment before answering.

"I know but I don't think we should leave it as it is. Our alchemy is dependant on the new circle and I'd rather it not be on something that could be potentially dangerous. We've had enough trouble as it is."

"Tell me about it," Edward agreed.

"So I'm hoping to incorporate the two forms of alchemy and if successful I'd like to open a school or a university."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Not a school just for alchemy but for all subjects and I'd like to open it close to Resembool, to bring some life back to our sleepy little town."

"I like it sleepy," Edward said.

"I do too, but it could use a boost. I've been working on a teaching degree. Did you know we missed out on over five years of school? Do you know how far behind we are?"

"Who cares? School was boring."

"That was because we had other things on our mind when we stopped going. So I'm catching up, then I'll get a teaching credential and perhaps teach here at the local school house. The current teacher wants to retire in a couple of years."

"Are you sure you have enough time to eat and sleep?" Edward asked realizing that Al sure had a lot of activities he was involved in.

"I've gotten used to not sleeping much," Al said.

"So how come you didn't mention all this in your letters?" Edward wondered. "Especially why you were trying to blend Xing and Amestris' alchemy."

"We needed something to talk about when you came to visit," Al joked. "I didn't want my reasons to end up in the wrong hands if I wrote to you about it. I know Mustang is in charge now but there could still be some loyal to the old Generals and King Bradley who are only lying low to save their own skins. I think if they had the opportunity to strike they would and I don't want to give them something that could be used against the current military regime."

"Makes sense," Edward said thoughtfully. "Is that why you didn't tell me you had the Philosopher's Stone?"

"Yes," Al said guiltily. "But when Marcoh gave it to me we weren't speaking then. When we were I was too busy trying to convince you not to accept the promotion."

The two of them sat in silence. Neither of them wanted to relive those months of brutal silence but it still weighed heavily upon their minds. Al still wanted an answer from Edward, why he left to fight but he could tell by his silence he wasn't ready to give it.

"I was tempted to give you the stone to use," Al said quietly.

Edward looked up at his brother in shock. "Why?"

"To protect yourself when you're fighting but I knew I shouldn't and that you wouldn't take it when I saw the tattoo on your shoulder."

"You're right. I wouldn't have taken it."

There was so much he had done without the stone with just his alchemy that he was ashamed of. Even without alchemy he had done quite a bit. Even though he felt the Drachmans deserved whatever they had coming to them, he would not want anything to do with the stone. The power could easily corrupt someone and he did not want to be tested because he knew, after all he had seen during the war, that he would abuse the power of the stone to protect the men under his command.

"Anyways, I doubt its power now. Marcoh used it to help those four soldiers that were chimeras who ended up working with us. Jerun, Zanpano …"

"Donkey Kong and Lion King!" Edward exclaimed, remembering how the two former Kimbley guards had helped him find a doctor after being critically wounded in a fight with the Crimson alchemist and how they stuck around, calling him kid one too many times. But he was eternally grateful they were there at the time. "I haven't thought of those guys in awhile."

"Their names are Darius and Heinckel but yes, those two are no longer chimeras."

"How are they all doing?"

"I don't know. They disappeared. Marcoh said they were grateful to be back to normal and they wanted a taste of freedom. They didn't want to be tied to the military after being used as lab rats and dogs on tight leashes."

"The military's not like that anymore," Edward said softly. Or so he hoped. He wouldn't have stayed if it was. But that was not his reason for staying Edward remembered. He had left to runaway from his problems and only later did his reason change to want to help drive the Drachmans out of their country. He hoped the military would no longer be involved in human experiments now that Mustang was Fuhrer. But he thought about what Al said; that there could still be supporters of Bradley's regime, who did not care about anything but power. If they decided to rise against Mustang, would they be able to stop them? Would Mustang know everything that was going on within the military? The Fuhrer always seemed to be one step ahead of things but his attention was split now with reestablishing the military and running two battlefronts. Al couldn't tell if Edward was trying to convince himself or defending the military that he was now a part of. Looking at his brother, who was lost in thought, Al didn't want him to question his actions anymore than he probably already did.

"It's late," Al said checking his watch. "We should get some sleep and come back to this tomorrow."

Edward nodded in agreement as he quietly closed the book he had been reading.

That night Edward slept fitfully. He was somewhat aware of his dreams and the tossing and turning. He tried to wake himself up to keep from calling out but his dreams had a stranglehold on him. He was finally able to wake after some not so gentle shaking from Al and urgent whispering for Edward to wake up, that it's only a dream. Edward woke with a start and sat up, his heart pounding and his borrowed pajamas soaked in sweat. He pulled his knees against his chest and lowered his head, trying to calm his wildly beating heart. Al looked upon his brother worriedly but knew that last thing Edward wanted was to talk about the dream, so he sat on the edge of the bed with his arm around Edward's shoulder.

"I'll be alright," Edward said a few minutes later once he calmed down.

"Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

Edward lay back down and turned his back towards Al, who reluctantly went back to his own bed, looking at Edward sadly.

Edward woke the next morning, or actually, the next afternoon. He got up, borrowed some more clothes and showered. Heading downstairs he could hear Pinako with a client. Instead of disturbing her, Edward went to the kitchen to get himself something to eat. As he ate a sudden craving for a cigarette grabbed hold of him; he had gone one full day without one and he was feeling it. Hoping his brother was busy in the basement he quietly went back upstairs for his stash. Not wanting to smell up any room in the house he grabbed his overcoat, went back downstairs then outside to the back of the house. Being out in the cold fresh air of winter was refreshing so as he lit a cigarette he decided to walk to the river.

He was just finishing off his second cigarette, sitting along the riverbank when he heard someone call out to him.

"Brother."

Edward had just put the cigarette to his lips and froze not knowing how he was going to explain this new habit he had picked up to Al. There was no way to hide it. Al had just come from over the rise that led to the river's edge, Edward smoking in plain view.

"I thought you'd be here. I just didn't expect to find you here smoking."

"Well, when there are no Drachmans to kill all we have to do is smoke and get tattoos," Edward said sarcastically.

"I don't care about all that. I admit I'm surprised to see how much you changed but please don't feel like you have to hide things from me."

"I'm not hiding anything. But what was I supposed to do? Make an announcement that I was going out for a smoke?"

"Don't get so defensive."

"I'm sorry," Edward said sighing, then with a sly grin offered one to Al.

"Want to try one?" Edward asked, holding a cigarette out to Al. "You get used to it after the first."

"No, thanks," Al said smiling.

"If you want to blame someone for the smoking and the tattoos, that would be Havoc," Edward said lighting the cigarette for himself.

"So he's the one that's corrupted my brother?"

"It was all just part of getting the men in my command to trust me. There's more to being an officer than just smoking and getting a few tattoos but it helped. I feel like I'm one of them now instead of the Fuhrer's pet who only got promoted because I was a big show-off."

"Brother," Al said sounding nervous. "How bad is it?"

"It's bad," Edward said staring off at the river, watching the quiet, lazy flow of the water. It was so strange for him to be around something so peaceful yet to know that miles away men were dying.

"The first two weeks were the worse, with the constant artillery fire. It drove me crazy but you get used to it after a while and when it stops the silence is just as bad. Then I start to think that something is wrong with me, that I wish the Drachmans would just do something, anything and when they do they're just a bunch of fucking bastards! When you think they'll do one thing they turn around and do the opposite. We're barely able to keep up with them. The things they do… it's like they're not human. They throw their own men to be slaughtered and the things they've done in the north…"

Edward paused to control himself. He was getting angry and the horrifying images he'd seen over the past year were coming back.

"Your dream last night, is that what it was about?"

"Probably. I don't always remember what they're about. I only get them when I'm on leave and when I wake up it's just like last night. I can only recall bits and pieces until I've forgotten then I fall back to sleep."

Al sat quietly watching his brother who continued looking off at the river. He didn't mean to bring back any awful memories Edward had but he also wanted to know what his brother was going through. He wanted to help but he didn't want Edward to feel pressured and knew it would take time to get him to open up about everything. Al was going to have to find something else for them to talk about.

"So who is Erika, or have you forgotten?"

Edward had just put his cigarette to his mouth and inhaled too deeply, setting off a coughing fit. Al started laughing as Edward fought to regain his composure.

"No, I haven't forgotten," Edward said when he managed to get some fresh air into his lungs, wondering how he was going to explain who Erika was. He wasn't ashamed of his feelings for her; it was just a matter of how they met that troubled him. He knew he didn't have to go into details of everything that happened but the fact that he had almost killed her… it was that part of their meeting that Edward found hard to talk about because he hated to think about it.

"Well, who is she? When did you meet her? She has to be special if you're saying her name in your sleep," Al asked curiously. This was the first time he'd known of Edward having any interest in a girl. He had always suspected that Winry had deeper feelings for Edward and that one day he would catch on and feel the same. But that didn't look like it would happen and Al was curious what this other girl was like to have caught Edward's attention.

"I met her in Juniper almost a year ago. She's a refugee from the north."

"And..."

"And I saw her again in Central."

"Do you like her?"

"Yes."

"Alphonse, I'm so glad you're still here!"

Edward and Al turned to see a young girl rushing towards them. Edward was relieved to have their conversation disrupted. He barely understood where he stood with Erika and he wasn't used to talking about girls with his brother. He also didn't want to let slip any of his other extra curricular activities that involved other women. He had shocked his brother enough; he didn't want to give Al a heart attack.

"Hi Gloria," Al said getting up. "What's wrong?"

The girl stopped before Al and put her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Her round cheeks were flush from running and bits of hair had come loose from her ponytail.

"My dad sent me to find you," Gloria said after catching her breath. "Someone has tried to take more rails further down the track and a train is due."

"Ed," Al said turning to his brother. "I'll be right back."

"Should I come to help?"

"No, no, I can handle it. You just stay here and relax," Al said as he followed Gloria to the train station running.

Edward decided he liked that idea. Al was fully capable and to have someone else deal with a crisis was a nice change. Edward laid out flat on the cold ground, wrapping himself up in his coat, lazily smoking his cigarette. He just wanted to clear his head but all he could think about was Erika; not everything he had just learned from his brother but a girl with soft lips and pretty hazel eyes. Getting up, he grounded out his cigarette and went back to the house deciding there was a phone call he had to make.

In the manga Ed only referred to one of the chimeras that ended up working with him, Darius, as Donkey Kong in the translation I read. I think if he had the chance he would have called the other guy, Heinckel, Lion King since he was part lion. ;)

I guess I should have put a spoiler alert on the first chapter of this story but as you've seen I don't leave many author's notes so here's the warning: Possible Spoilers! Also some made up spoilers.