Author Note: This idea for an alternate ending suddenly popped into my head and I couldn't help but write it out.

So in this ending Sarah dies on the battlefield instead of going into a coma and this is a couple years later.

Disclaimer: FMA and its characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa

Alternate Ending

Alphonse let out a sigh as the Rockbell house came into view. It had been a little over a year since he had last been there and he was glad to be back there but at the same time he dreaded it. He let out another sigh but this time it was more sad than relieved.

"Hello!" He called out as he opened the door and entered the familiar house.

"Al, is that you?" He heard Winry's reply from the kitchen so he headed that way and found her washing dishes. Alphonse walked up to her and gave her a hug, which she returned eagerly. "It's good to see you. How was your time in Xing?" Winry asked with a somewhat forced smile.

"I had a great time."

"With May?" Winry asked with a teasing smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Alphonse nodded with a chuckle. Both of their smiles fell as a grim silence filled the air.

"Is…is he…?" Alphonse went to ask the dreaded question but the pain in Winry's eyes was enough of an answer for him. Winry turned back to the sink and sadly shook her head. "I see." Alphonse looked down at the ground then turned to go back out.

Alphonse walked down the now familiar road to the cemetery where he knew his brother would be. Along the way he couldn't help but think back to the grim day Sarah was buried there. It was a very small funeral, as not many really knew the girl and those that did weren't close to her. Some that showed up actually came for her but most came because of Edward; the girl was important to him so they felt that they should be there to comfort and support him.

At one point during the funeral Alphonse had left Edward to mourn the girl he loved alone. He went around to talk to the others that had come. He didn't bother going over to talk to Major Armstrong who was too busy bawling his eyes out; besides Edward, he was one of the few that felt close to Sarah. Next to him stood General Armstrong. The woman stood there in respectable silence but was overall unaffected by the girl's death. Inwardly though she was surprised that the girl had passed on; despite being used to death the thought of the seemingly indestructible girl passing had never crossed her mind. Alphonse passed the two and continued on his way. He came upon Mustang and Hawkeye. It was no surprise to him that the two were there; Sarah did save Hughes' life after all. Next to the two stood said man and his family. Elicia was crying in her mother's arms; the poor girl had grown attached to the girl that had helped her father even though she had only met her once. Hughes himself was staring grimly at the ground no doubt thinking about how Sarah had saved his life.

Alphonse stopped and stared at the disguised figure of Scar who risked being discovered to come and say his goodbye to the girl that was so much like himself. Alphonse looked around at everyone, which included Darius, Ling, Heinkel and even the manager from the Angels' Bar, and realized that everyone there, expect Edward, didn't really know Sarah at all. None of them were really that close to her. Alphonse couldn't help but pity the girl; she left the world with only one person really knowing her well enough to fully feel her absence. At the end Alphonse found himself standing next to Winry. She was crying but he knew it wasn't because she lost someone important to her.

"I never got to know her." Winry confessed to him through her silent tears. "And that's what hurts…I wanted to get to know her…I wanted to connect with her and heal some of the pain in her heart but I…but I never got the chance. I really feel that I missed out on something great. I still remember that time at the hospital when you and Edward were fighting. I didn't like Sarah back then and I'm sure I showed it and yet…she reached out to me. She eased the tension between us. I felt then that, given the time, I could be the best of friends with her but…" Winry chuckled humorlessly. "I never even got to apologize for behaving so rudely to her." Alphonse remained quiet though he did sympathize with Winry; he too had wanted to get to know the girl that had captured his brother's heart. Eventually everyone left but his brother remained in place in front of the grave. Knowing how hard the death was on his brother, Alphonse didn't attempt to get him to leave until much later. He knew from that moment on that his brother would never be the same and he was right.

Alphonse's thoughts snapped back to the present when he finally entered the cemetery. It only took him a few minutes to find his brother sitting in front of Sarah's gravestone. Edward didn't turn to look at him but he knew that he was aware of his presence.

"Brother…this can't go on." Alphonse spoke to his brother in a sad, pleading tone. Edward sighed but kept his back to his brother as he spoke.

"I know." Edward's voice was but a whisper.

"I understand how much she meant to you but you need to move on…please brother…we're worried about you. You hardly eat, hardly sleep and you spend every waking moment here." Alphonse gestured to the grave.

"I know Al but it's not that easy." Edward's eyes bore into the engraved name as he spoke to his beloved brother. "Even now I keep thinking of getting a Philosopher's stone and bringing her back." Alphonse paled at that but didn't interrupt. Edward smiled humorlessly before continuing. "She would be so disappointed in me if I ever did but I can't seem to get rid of the idea…there was just so many things I wanted to experience with her." Alphonse grimaced as his brother let out a pitiful imitation of a laugh. "I never even got to tell her I love her."

"I know Ed but still…you have to move on and live…you know that's what she would have wanted." Alphonse spoke softly, hoping desperately that his brother would finally be able to move on.

"You're right but…" Edward sighed again. "I just need a little more time." Alphonse watched his brother bring his knees up to his chest and curl up in front of the grave.

"I understand brother…I'll be waiting." Alphonse then turned and walked away, leaving his brother to once again mourn the girl that he would never forget for as long as he lived.

Author Note: I find this ending to be a bit more realistic but I love happy endings so I will stick with the other one.

I hope none of you have problems with Edward having a hard time moving on; I know he is a very strong person not just physically but also emotionally and mentally but this is how I imagined he would react to Sarah's death, especially since he still feels guilty about trading her life for Al's even though he did it unknowingly.

And now the story comes out to be 109 pages once again excluding author notes.

Please Review…it's your last chance to tell me how I did.