Disclaimer: I don't own the characters…and junk…

Note: Back to our lovely Al's POV…

A Vengeful Lunch

It had been a long week for both brother and I. I had several emergencies to attend out of town. Edward had finals to grade and turn in, as well as ridiculous stacks of paper work to turn in to the General. There had been a slight uprising in the far east, that needed some debate and time consuming compromising. Brother didn't have to go all the way east for the event, but was stuck late in Central, doing as he called it; all of the bastards paperwork. Not to mention he taught at the college by day. To put it quite bluntly, brother was in no mood to argue or even speak to anyone.

Not even me. So when Friday came, I phoned brother at HQ and asked him to join for lunch in the park, since I was on my way home from Aquoya and head back to Resembool. Central was between so it really wasn't a inconvenience. He gave me the okay and we were to meet in the park at 12 O'clock on the dot, though I know Ed will be late anyway.

One came and so did quarter after. I sighed as I sat at the bench in front of the great bond, bearing the Amestrian military's emblem of a lion.

"You had a hell of a week too, Alphonse?" Brother replied sarcastically, musing me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see him in uniform, and already scratching at the blue wool that lay around the right side of his neck. He looked utterly worn out; dark circles don't lie.

"I did…surgery went real bad for some poor fellow, almost lost him…: I sighed again, looking at the crumpled brown bag, brother's lunch was in. I was starved. I looked down at my own bag of goodies and gestured Ed to take a seat.

"So how'd your finals go Ed? Everyone pass?" I asked as he plopped down next to me.

"No, only one person failed. But I could already see she just wasn't into the equations…or the alchemy. I think some of those students take my coarse just to take it and don't realize how difficult it is…And you…how's the clinic? Remind me, I have to bring Maes down for some shots…" He thought out loud and dug an auto mail hand into his lunch bag.

I follow in his example and shrug as I pluck a fried dumpling in my mouth I purchased at the train station. "Clinic's been real busy these days every one's having babies, which means more children need care. I think were having a baby boom." I say dryly.

"Ed, your lying when you say your course is difficult, it's a 100 level…the basics. I have met some of your students at the clinic and say you are hard on them…Quantum theorem ring a bell? We only just touched that one when teacher Izumi passed…and I don't think we quite have yet."

Ed simply smiled, unwrapping the foil of his sandwich. "You just touched Al, but me…that's the first thing I saw when the gate opened after mom's…transmutation…" He trailed off, as a frown graced his features. He didn't not like the talk about that time, but sometimes more often that not, it did slip out.

I breathed in deeply and jumped when I heard brother growl. "WINRY! I'M GONNA KILL THAT WOMAN! LOOK WHAT SHE DID AL!"

He yelled, frightening a flock of ducks at the pond. I glanced over to see him holding two slices of bread and a piece of lettuce.

"What the hell kind of sandwich is this supposed to be? Rabbit food?! Damn it! I left my fuckin wallet at home, which means I'm going to starve all day!" He grumbled, tossing the bread and lettuce into the pond, the ducks surprisingly came back.

"Sounds like a case of you pissing her off again Ed. You know how she gets…actually she's always been like that. I remember when she purposely broke the swing in our back yard because you were being mean to her…you got on it and fell on your butt! It was funny…" I laugh, ask Ed looks as if he's going to kill me.

"I get to starve because I forgot to flatten the stupid metal for her stupid projects…sometimes I could kick myself for marrying her. She's evil like old lady Pinako was." He muttered as he leaned back against the bench. He looked like a miserable child; pout face and all.

"An' that's why you love her Ed. It was just a little vengeful lunch. Here, eat this I brought extra." I say chomping inot another dumpling and hand Ed one. He smiles and looks off at the sky.

"Yeah…your always right, thanks Al…a vengeful lunch, huh…"

A/N: This was totally inspired by my bestest friend in the whole world, Kristen. She packs her husbands lunch and…well, you see what happened, except PBnJ is her torture. I loved putting that idea into Edward's life. He gets sensitive about food. Enjoy!