Chapter 46 –

Ed still had his face buried in Ayala's grimy fur as the courtyard and Command Centre burst into cheers as Ed's words reached them. The shouts and disbelieving exclamations reached Ed's ears and he felt himself smile slightly as he held Ayala as tightly as he could with one hand. For nearly seven months they had been preparing for this day, making plan after plan as they slowly uncovered information. Seven months of work and fear that they would be caught by the homunculi or military before they could finish their planning or that their friends and family would be killed to keep them in line and it had all boiled down to the last five hours. For five hours, Ed had been certain that the universe would fuck him over, would have them almost win before pulling the rug out from underneath them since it seemed to like doing that to him but they had won.

"Ed!" The familiar voice had Ed jerking his head up and looking around to find Hughes at the front of a group of people heading for him. Al was being carried by three soldiers as his armour couldn't support him and Ed grimaced.

Ed had barely given Al a thought during this whole fight and now his brother was literally in pieces. The blonde had come to a decision while Al was unconscious when he and Izumi were in Father's lair before Mustang and Nala had fallen through the portal that he'd need to find out a way to get Al his body back immediately. His being unconscious for so long had caused Ed a lot of worry and the alchemist had frantically checked Al's seal as soon as he could. The seal was still intact but Ed could see that his brother's theory back in the north was true. The blood he'd used to make the seal was flaking away slowly. Blood, after all, wasn't the most reliable material to work with since it didn't last. The blood decayed as it aged and flaked.

Of course, as both Ayala and Chester had pointed out back then, Ed couldn't be blamed for using it since he'd been 11, bleeding out and desperate to get his brother back however he could. He just used the first material he could see that he could draw with and that had happened to be his blood. The fact that the seal had lasted over 6 years was phenomenal in and of itself but Ed had seen that the seal was on its last legs. He needed to come with something he could offer as payment to get Al's body back and he needed to do it soon.

Ed felt something almost crash into him and he looked up to see Chester standing there right next to Ayala. "I'm so proud of you," Chester said, voice thick with emotions and Ed couldn't stop himself from letting go of Ayala to pull the leopard into a hug of his own. "I can't believe you survived. When I saw Father heading for you, I thought for sure your luck had run out. I almost didn't listen to you when you told me to stop Al but I knew you must've had a plan," Chester admitted as he rubbed his head against Ed's cheek and neck.

"What was my brother planning on doing?" Ed asked as he felt someone else nudge him and looked up, completely unsurprised to see Nala standing there.

"He was going to reverse his seal and get your arm back," Chester told him. Ed felt anger simmer beneath his skin at his little brother's suicidal idea but his exhaustion doused it and he sighed.

"I'll yell at him for that," Ed promised the leopard. "Later," he added as he stifled a yawn, causing Chester to chuckle at him.

"I'll join you," Chester said and Ed gave him a smile before he removed his arm from Chester to wrap around Nala.

"Thanks for trying to help me and the others against Father before he knocked everyone back," Ed said to the lioness, resting his forehead against hers and wrapped his arm around her neck.

"Thank you for surviving," Nala whispered, moving her head so she could pull him into her version of a hug and Ed closed his eyes as Chester and Ayala joined them as best they could.

Something grabbing him had him panicking, thinking he was being attacked again when he realised it was Hughes pulling him up and into a hug. He could feel a spark of amusement from Leo, Nala, Chester and Ayala but it didn't hold as they knew his instinctual response wasn't an overreaction. Ed felt Hughes wrap his arms around Ed tightly and the blonde returned it as best he could with one arm, tucking his face into Hughes' jacket as he did so.

"What are you doing here, Hughes? I thought you were with Miss Gracia and Elysia at the radio station," Ed asked, voice muffled by his coat.

"I was," Hughes confirmed, "but then Leo and Lilith sensed you were in town and heading for the Third Laboratory. I knew you would end up under Central Command so I headed here to help where I could. I got here just before the gates closed," Hughes told him.

"You left Miss Gracia and Elysia to help us?" Ed asked disbelievingly and Hughes snorted.

"I'll admit, I didn't want to leave them as much as I wanted to make sure the two of you boys and Roy were safe but Gracia informed me that they were very well protected and that she would not be pleased with me if I didn't go to help," Hughes told him and Ed huffed out some laughter.

"That sounds like Miss Gracia," Ed said. He could feel Ayala and Leo leaning their weight against their legs and he knew there was a crowd of people watching the two of them. He should've been embarrassed at showing so much weakness but Ed couldn't find it in himself to care right at this moment. After everything he had gone through today, he deserved a goddamned hug from someone who cared about him as much as he cared about them.

The hug was broken by Hughes as he pushed Ed back by his shoulders and Ed almost rolled his eyes as he realised the older man was checking him for injuries. He'd lost his black jacket in Father's lair somewhere so it wasn't hard to see any injuries on the upper half of his body. While Hughes was giving him the once over, Ed was doing the same to his brother's armour to try and figure out just what he'd have to do to mend it. "Is the injury to your arm the worst you got?" Hughes asked, eyeing the injury caused by the rebar and drawing Ed out of his calculations.

"Yeah, that and some broken ribs but who's really surprised I broke some ribs in a fight?" Ed asked, aiming for a light tone. He must've succeeded because Hughes gave him a half-smile before he waved a soldier over.

"Good. That means you won't complain as Havoc patches you up," Hughes said and Ed did a double-take. Sure enough, it was Havoc heading for them, a familiar smirk on his face as he pulled out his med-kit while Mark walked beside him.

"Good to see you, Chief. Can't say I missed having to patch you up near every time I saw you," Havoc teased and Ed rolled his eyes even as he grinned.

"I'll have you know that it's been at least three months since I was last injured," Ed snarked.

"We fought Pride last night, Brother. You got injured then," Al piped up from where his armour was propped up on some debris and Ed glared at him.

"Oh no, you don't get to bring that up after what you were gonna do," Ed told him, giving him a pointed look. "Chester told me," Ed added knowing his brother was going to ask.

"Ches!" Al hissed reproachfully but Chester gave him a glare that rivalled Ed's.

"We will be talking about that later," Ed warned his brother and he was positive he saw the armour sag slightly.

"Hold still, Chief," Havoc warned as he started cleaning the wound out. Ed watched as Major-General Armstrong appeared on scene and Mustang, Hawkeye and Hughes separated from the group surrounding him to speak with her.

"Hey, I thought you were in charge of Barry. What happened?" Ed asked, remembering what Hawkeye had told him. "Did he give you the slip?" Ed asked, worried they would have to send soldiers after the murderous armour, which really wasn't something anyone needed loose in the city at any time but especially not now.

Havoc shook his head. "No, one of the soldiers we were fighting got in a lucky shot," Havoc told him as he finished cleaning out the wound. "It destroyed his seal." Ed wasn't sure how to feel about that. On the one hand, Barry was a crazed serial killer who'd messed with Al's head but on the other hand, he did agree to fight for them which had to say something good about him.

"Is everyone else alright?" Ed asked. Havoc knew him well enough to know that Ed knew their side had undoubtedly suffered casualties but that Ed wasn't referring to everyone from Briggs, Eastern Command, the Ishvalens and whoever else sided with them.

"I've seen Falman and both Fuery and Breda are still holed up at the radio station with Brosh and Ross," Havoc told Ed, wrapping the bandage methodically around his arm. "I know we lost Fu, Buccaneer and Eric though. I haven't heard about those who remained in East City," Havoc told him and Ed's heart fell as he sought out Lan Fan, who was still standing nearby with Greed.

"I'm so sorry," he told the Xingese woman, who inclined her head.

"Thank you, Edward. He died an honourable death, which is everything I could've hoped for him," Lan Fan said, voice a little thicker than it usually was. Greed squeezed her arm and that motion caught Ed's attention and made him study the person next to Lan Fan with a bit more scrutiny.

"Ling?" Ed asked and the prince nodded. "Greed?" Ed questioned and Ling sighed.

"He was going to let Father take him," Ling revealed and Ed gaped disbelievingly. Greed was going to sacrifice himself? "He put up his shield on instinct when you shouted at him but he was going to lower it so Father could take his stone. He'd planned to revert his ultimate shield so Father would turn to graphite and you could stop him but I managed to convince him that he didn't need to give his life up for you to win," Ling said. "We've come to the agreement that we'll rule Xing together and we'll share my body equally so Laika won't suffer. Greed has also promised to not block our bond as much as he had been before while he's in charge so that should help," Ling explained and Ed felt some relief at the news.

"I'm sure Laika will be overjoyed to hear that news," Ed said and Ling grinned.

"Yeah, he will be," Ling said before his face fell. "I have a lot to make up for with him. He shouldn't have suffered like he did for my gain," Ling said. Ed raised a brow but didn't say anything. He, Ling and Greed had had numerous arguments regarding Laika during their month with Darius and Heinkel and Ed didn't have anything to say right now that he hadn't said already. Ling seemed to realise this since he simply nodded at Ed's silence.

"Why's Greed letting you be in charge now?" Ed asked and Ling huffed slightly.

"He's decided that he doesn't want to deal with all of this," Ling said, gesturing to everything happening around them, "so he's left me in charge," he told him and Ed shook his head fondly.

"Of course he did," Ed said, sharing a grin with Ling.

"All done, Chief," Havoc announced as he tied off the bandage and Ed gave the man a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Havoc," Ed said sincerely as the man packed up his rubbish. Havoc grinned at him as Hughes came back over to where they were standing. Ed checked and found Hawkeye, Mustang, Nala and Soren were still talking with Major-General Armstrong and her men. "Get bored, did you?" Ed asked as Leo slunk up to sit next to Ed's legs once more. Ed would've raised a questioning brow at the fox's unusual clingy behaviour but he left it, figuring it just had something to do with the fact that Ed had come very close to being killed in front of him.

"They're just talking about what they'll have to do to organise a clean up and how to deal with the remaining white mannequins," Hughes said, flapping a hand flippantly at the group.

"Some of them survived?" Ed asked, worry in his voice but Hughes made a soothing gesture.

"The men managed to push them back and trap them in an undamaged wing of Central Command. They can't get out. I think Roy's offered to deal with them once everyone who's injured or worse has been attended to," Hughes told him and Ed sighed with relief.

"That's good," Ed said. "What can I do to help?" Ed asked and Hughes shrugged.

"Honestly? Not much at the moment," Hughes told him. "Right now, everyone's busy dealing with the injured and the fallen so until that's done with, no one can really start any kind of clean up. I think the best thing you can do is fix your brother up," Hughes said and Ed nodded.

"Yeah. What do you say, Al?" Ed asked and he heard Al sigh.

"I thought you'd never get around to it," Al joked and Ed rolled his eyes.

"You're hilarious," Ed said as he took in Al's damaged armour with a critical eye. "There's too much damage to your armour for me to simply thin the rest of it out and manipulate it to make up the missing parts. It wouldn't be strong enough for you to use anyway," Ed said as he crouched next to Al. "We'll need to find some metal that we can use since I doubt the parts that are missing survived Father's attack," Ed said decisively.

"What do you need and how much?" Hughes asked and Ed hummed.

"Well, anything close to what his armour is made out of and as much as you can find," Ed told him.

"Alright, you guys stay here. I'll find some men and get them looking. Surely there's something in the debris we can use," Hughes said before he took off with Havoc before Ed could say anything.

"I like how he waits to make sure we're on board with his plan," Ed said as he watched the two men and Animals talk to a handful of other soldiers and their Animals.

"You know he's just being helpful," Al pointed out as Ed sat down next to him properly.

"Yeah, I know," Ed sighed as he eyed Al's seal critically. "We don't have long," Ed said and Al hummed in agreement.

"I know," Al said. "I saw my body when I was forced through the portal. I almost joined back up with it but my body looks so frail, Brother. I don't think it would've survived Father forcing our gateways open," Al told him and Ed swore.

"That means that once we get you back, we'll have to get you to a hospital immediately," Ed said with a frown. He hadn't even considered what condition Al's body would be in after over six years in Truth's domain. Though they'd theorised Ed's body was linked to Al's so it would be getting some nutrition, Ed hadn't even realised he'd been expecting Al's body to be healthy until Al revealed otherwise.

"Do you know how we're going to do that?" Al asked, voice worried.

"I've been trying to figure out what we can sacrifice to get you back without using a Philosopher's Stone but I've been coming up blank," Ed admitted. "I know there must be something other than a stone but I just can't think of it."

"Ed," Ling said, interrupting their conversation. Ed looked around to see the prince crouching next to him while Lan Fan and – to Ed's surprise – Mei were standing behind him. "Lan Fan took this off Bradley's corpse," Ling said, holding out a liquid stone and Ed inhaled sharply. "Since I still have Greed within me, we don't need it." Ling looked over at Mei before continuing. "The Yao clan have offered to give the Chang clan protection should we ascend to the throne so Princess Mei has no use for the stone either," Ling informed them and Ed wasn't the only Elric to gasp in surprise at the news. "Take it and use it to achieve your goal," Ling said, placing the stone in Ed's lax hand.

"No, we can't," Ed said, pushing it back into Ling's hand. "We can't sacrifice people for our gain. It was our mistake that had us ending up like this and we're going to be the ones to pay the price," Ed told him firmly. "Keep the stone or give it to Marcoh or let me destroy it but we aren't using it for us," Ed said. "There's another way. I just have to find it," Ed said, looking at Al, who nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure, boys?" Hughes said, startling Ed who hadn't noticed the man's approach. "It took you nearly five years just to find out everything about the stone," he pointed out and both boys nodded.

"There's another way, Mr. Hughes. We'll find it," Al said just as firmly as Ed had done. Hughes looked like he wanted to argue further but someone interrupted him before he could.

"I'm glad to see the two of you are alright," Hohenheim said a little awkwardly as he and Calix stood a small distance away from everyone. Hohenheim's shirt hung off him in rags and Ed could see that the man was still exhausted and in pain from shielding them alongside Mei then using himself as a shield to protect Ed, Izumi and their Animals when Father unleashed the attack above ground.

"Dad! You're okay!" Al exclaimed happily and Hohenheim smiled at his youngest son.

"I'm not sure about 'okay' but I'm still alive so there's that," Hohenheim said wryly. "Are the two of you definitely alright?" Hohenheim asked, voice still concerned as he took in their appearances. Ed knew his body was likely covered in small cuts, grazes and a lot of bruises but considering the injuries he'd come out of other fights with in the past, he put this one down to one of the least painful fights.

"I'm alright. Just waiting to be put back together so I can help," Al said cheerfully and Ed rolled his eyes as he felt Chester nudge him, undoubtedly on orders from Al.

"I'm fine," Ed said, grumbling slightly as he shoved the leopard back. He glanced up at Calix and sighed slightly. "Thanks for, you know, stopping Homunculous from killing me, Ayala, Koda and Teacher," Ed said, making sure the horse knew he was being sincere.

"I'm glad I was able to get there in time," Calix said as he lowered his head to gently nudge Ed, "and I'm glad you're alright," Calix said, stepping back once more, not willing to push his luck with how much affection he could show the blonde.

"So you're Ed and Al's father," Hughes said, looking over at Hohenheim with a stony expression that had Ed shocked. He'd never seen the normally easy-going man look so emotionless. Except, as Ed took in his expression a bit more, he thought Hughes' eyes seemed angry, like Hohenheim had done something that pissed him off and that caused Ed to frown. As far as he knew, the two had never met so why on earth would Hughes be angry at Hohenheim?

"You really are an idiot sometimes, you know that?" Leo said, sighing slightly and Ed scowled at the fox.

"How am I an idiot?" he asked as Hohenheim confirmed he was their father with a nod of his head.

"He's mad at Hohenheim because he cares about you. He doesn't think that any excuse Hohenheim gave you back in Resembool is a good enough reason for him abandoning you for 12 years," Leo informed him.

"I hope you realise how great your boys turned out despite everything life has thrown at them. My wife, daughter and I certainly have counted ourselves lucky to have them as part of our little family for the past five years," Hughes said and Ed's eyes widened slightly at Hughes' words. "My daughter certainly thinks the world of her big brothers and she's always bragging to people about what her big brothers have done recently," Hughes told him and Ed thought he saw a mixture of grief and delight in Hohenheim's eyes.

"I'm glad my sons had people like you and your family to look after them," Hohenheim said solemnly. "I'm glad that they found themselves people they can call family and who will do the same for them." Hughes seemed to be considering Hohenheim's answer and how truthful he believed it to be and Ed wondered if it was possible for someone on the other side of Central Command to cause an explosion or something so Hughes would be distracted. He did not want to have Hughes publicly shame Hohenheim for his non-existent parenting skills.

As Ed realised Hughes wasn't going to just let Hohenheim get away with just the response he'd given and the likelihood of Ed's Gate opening up and swallowing him whole to escape the curious glances from the soldiers milling around were non-existent, Ed went to say something when the thought about his Gate had his brain kicking into overdrive. He tuned everyone else out as he followed the thought, trying to see where it would lead him. No one seemed to notice he wasn't paying attention to them as Al tried to placate Hughes and defuse the situation except for Ayala and Chester.

"What are you thinking?" Ayala asked once she was certain her words wouldn't throw Ed's train of thought off its metaphorical tracks.

"I'm thinking I know what to offer as payment to get Al back," Ed said, speaking solely to her and Chester.

"Really?" Chester asked, voice a level of hopeful Ed hadn't heard since they first thought of using a Philosopher's Stone, back before Ed had even gotten his automail fitted for the first time.

"Really," Ed confirmed, giving Chester a confident grin.

"This won't hurt you, will it?" Ayala asked. Her worry wasn't completely unfounded and Ed knew it considering he was well aware of how little thought he gave to his own safety if it meant keeping Al or someone he cared about alive.

"No, it shouldn't," Ed told her. Neither Animal commented on his wording choice since they both knew that Ed couldn't guarantee anything. Truth could take what he was planning to offer or Truth could do something none of them would expect. "Where'd my spear go?" Ed asked as he looked around.

"Over there," Ayala said, looking off to Ed's right and a few metres away. No one had touched or moved the weapon and Ed was grateful to see that.

"Why do you need the spear, Brother?" Al asked and Ed looked over to see that Hughes and Hohenheim had seemed to come to a tense understanding or, at the very least, Hughes wasn't trying to passive-aggressively inform Hohenheim of all the ways he'd fucked up in the lieutenant-colonel's eyes.

"I've figured out what I need to pay," Ed told him, giving Al a smile. "I need the spear so I can draw out the array," Ed said and Al gasped.

"Wait, what?" Al asked. "What do you mean, Brother?"

"I mean, I know what I need to pay so I can get you your body back," Ed said, rolling his eyes slightly as he got to his feet. "What do you think I mean?" Ed teased lightly.

"Don't try and pretend you didn't know what I was asking, Edward," Al snapped. "What do you plan on offering as payment? I know what you're like, Ed, and I won't let you do anything if it's going to cost me you," Al said, his voice as close to crying as he could manage. Both Hughes and Hohenheim were looking at Ed with varying expressions. Hughes looked like he was fully prepared to stop Ed using any means necessary while Hohenheim looked – Ed narrowed his eyes slightly as he tried to puzzle out the meaning behind the expression because surely he was just imagining the calculating look in his father's eyes.

"I promise, Al, that if this works out how I intend it to do, I'll be back alive and in one piece," Ed swore, making sure his brother could see he wasn't lying in order to lessen his fears before he headed to go grab his spear. "Aya? I need your help," Ed said to the wolf and she dutifully trotted over. "I just need to make some adjustments to the spear," Ed told her. She nodded in understanding and Ed imagined the array he needed before they both touched the spear. The crackle of alchemic energy got the attention of some of the soldiers but Ed paid them no mind as he inspected his and Ayala's handiwork. Now instead of having a sharp, bladed edge, the spear had a pointed but dull tip. "Awesome," Ed said, giving Ayala a grin.

"Are you sure, Ed?" Ayala asked and Ed nodded as he twirled the ex-spear. "I know what you want to offer as payment. Maybe you don't have to give up your alchemy. Maybe there's something else the two of you can sacrifice to get Al back," Ayala said, pleading slightly. "I know how much you love being able to use alchemy. It's one of the few things in life you truly enjoy doing, research and all. If you give it up, you can't get it back," Ayala pointed out, knowing that sometimes the obvious needed to be pointed out.

"I know, Ayala," Ed said, using their bond so Al or the others wouldn't overhear them. He was completely unsurprised that Ayala knew what he was planning since she was his Animal and he could hide nothing from her without extreme effort on his part. "But I would give my alchemy up any day of the week if it means I get Al back, body and all," Ed told her, holding her gaze. "I love using alchemy but if it means Al gets to live his life in his flesh and blood body like he should, I'd sacrifice almost everything, including my alchemy, to make sure he gets that," Ed told her and – after a few moments of holding his gaze – Ayala nodded, giving her silent approval. Ed sighed in relief when she nodded. Though he would've gone through with it anyway if she had continued arguing, he felt a lot better going through with it now that he knew she was on his side.

"I'll get the soldiers out of your way," Ayala said and Ed gave her a grin.

"Try not to scare them too much, alright?" Ed said and she laughed.

"I'll do my best," she said cheekily before she started towards the first soldier and had his Animal ask him to move back a few feet. Almost every soldier complied with her request but those who didn't or had hesitated moved the moment she bared her teeth.

Ed shook his head at her as he started scratching the array he thought he'd never use again into one of the few flat stone sections of the courtyard that had remained unscathed and was large enough for his use. Starting with the outermost circle of the array and working his way in, Ed carefully drew the array into the stone. The work he was doing was gathering the attention of the soldiers and Animals around him but Ed ignored them, making sure he got every single detail right. If this was going to be his last transmutation, he was going to make damned sure there was no chance of a rebound. Once he was done, Ed made his way back out of the array, looking around to make sure Izumi wasn't there to try and stop him, before he tossed the stone pole aside and crouched down next to Ayala.

"I'll be alright," Ed promised her, sensing her worry had increased now that he was moments from standing in the centre of that array and activating it.

"You'd better be or I'll never let you live it down," she warned him, trying to sound brave but she could hear the trembles and cracks in her own voice. Ed didn't tease her about it like he might've ordinarily done, instead, he grabbed her in a fierce hug and held onto her tightly for a few moments before he let her go.

"Here I go," Ed said, sighing as he stood and turned to face the array with fierce determination. This time, rather than cause them misery and grief, rather than almost destroying his family, this array was going to fix everything. This array was going to give him his brother back whole and allow Alphonse to feel, to taste, to smell everything once more. He took a step forward towards the array when a scream caused his blood to run cold as he froze dead in his tracks.

"ALPHONSE!" Ed turned to find Mei crouching next to Al's armour, crying fat tears as she shook the metal. Ed's breath froze in his throat as he realised the helmet was dark, that the glow that had been his brother's eyes wasn't there anymore.

Abandoning the array, he and Ayala ran the few metres to Al's side just in time for Ed to slide to his knees and catch Chester as the leopard collapsed. Lowering the big cat gently to the ground, Ed did the first thing that came to mind. "Heal!" he shouted, hand hovering over Chester's side and watched as the green energy encased his brother's Animal. "What happened?" Ed barked at Mei.

"I don't know!" she wailed, Xao-Mei making distressed noises on her shoulder. "He was asking Chester what you were planning to give up when he suddenly went silent! When I called his name, he didn't answer me and then his eyes went dark!" she cried, hiccupping slightly.

"No, no, no, no!" Ed muttered as he shifted, keeping his hand hovering over Chester as he fought to keep the leopard alive and looked at Al's seal. To his horror, he was greeted by the sight of a broken seal. The few flecks of dried blood that were keeping the circle intact had failed and the seal had been broken.

"Ed, what can we do?" Hughes asked urgently, crouching next to Ed.

"I don't know," Ed said, shell-shocked. He had been seconds away from getting Al back. He wanted to laugh hysterically, cry, rage and scream all at the same time because of course Al's seal would fail right this moment! "I can't activate the array and keep Chester alive at the same time," Ed told Hughes. "I can't stop using Chester's energy on him because whatever happened to Al when he was pulled through the portal took a lot out Chester. I don't know if he'd still be alive by the time I activate the array and what I planned to pay wouldn't be enough to get Al back, body and soul, and Chester as well," Ed sobbed. "I don't know what to do!"

Hughes watched as Ed's eyes flicked back and forwards between two unseen points as he tried to desperately find a way to save his brother and Animal and Hughes felt his heart break. He cursed the universe because didn't these boys deserve a goddamned break from getting shit thrown at them? He saw Hawkeye and Nala leading Roy over to the boys but his focus was brought back to Ed as the blonde let out a broken whimper. However, before Hughes could offer any sort of comfort or encouragement because if anyone could figure out something to save Al and Chester, it would've been Ed, movement to their right caught his and Ed's attention.

"Hohenheim," Ed breathed as he took in the sight of his father standing in the centre of the array he'd just drawn out, someone's black military jacket draped over his arm, "what do you think you're doing? Get out of there!" Ed shouted at him. Something big settled down behind him and Ed looked over his shoulder to see Calix laying behind him, curved slightly around the blonde.

"I am Alphonse's father. I'm your father, whether you want me to be or not," Hohenheim said, giving Ed a small smile. "I can't possibly make up for all the years you and Alphonse spent without me there as I should have been but maybe I can start earning your forgiveness by giving you your brother back whole," Hohenheim said but Ed was violently shaking his head.

"No. No!" Ed shouted at him. "You may be a shit father but, dammit, Alphonse wants you in his life! You can't do this to him! This is our mistake to fix! Not yours!" Ed yelled at him, tears clinging to his eyes. Absolutely no one, not a soldier, not an Animal, made any kind of noise as they watched the tragic scene in front of them unfold.

"But I do bear some responsibility for what happened to you, Ed," Hohenheim said. "I left those books where the two of you would see them. I unwittingly gave you what you needed to perform that array," Hohenheim told him, echoing what Ed had yelled at him months ago in Resembool. "It's my job as your father to stop you from making mistakes of that magnitude. I failed to do that," Hohenheim said, making sure Ed was looking him in the eyes as he spoke. "I told you that part of the reason I left 12 years ago was to save Amestris from the fate Xerxes suffered. The only reason I wanted to save Amestris was because of you boys and your mother. I was being selfish. I wanted the three of you to live your lives with no threat to you from anything," Hohenheim told him and Ed let out a shaky breath, feeling hot tears run down his face. "That threat is forever gone and now all I want the most is for the two of you to be happy," Hohenheim said and Ed felt a sob catch in his throat at the honesty Hohenheim was displaying. "I won't let you make any more sacrifices to save Alphonse when you wouldn't have had to if I hadn't failed you so many times," Hohenheim told him, crouching down so he could place his hands on the array.

"Don't," Ed said, voice hitching with emotion. "Please, don't," he begged, tears making their way down his face, uncaring of who was there to see them. Chester's energy was starting to fade as it failed to keep him alive, no matter how much Ed tried to force it to keep going and Hohenheim just gave him a sad smile.

"I hope you'll tell Alphonse how much I love the both of you boys and how proud I am of you. No matter what you may think, Edward, the two of you made everything I've suffered all these years, made everything I've had to sacrifice, you both made it all worth it," Hohenheim told him. "I hope you'll forgive me for everything one day." With that, Hohenheim placed his hands on the array and Ed was forced to look away as the blue alchemic energy threatened to blind him. When he opened them back up, a few blue sparks crackled around the array but there was no one standing in the centre of it.

"Calix, you have to tell him to come back," Ed said, turning to look pleadingly at the grey stallion. "He can't just leave us like that again," Ed said but Calix's brown eyes, filled with love and sadness, told Ed that he'd just wasted his breath.

"Van was never going to let you pay anything to reunite Al's soul with his body," Calix told him, pressing his forehead against Ed's. "When you turned down the stone Ling handed you, Van was already trying to figure out a way he could draw the array and bring Al back without you finding out," Calix revealed and Ed's shoulders shook as he sobbed silently, pressing his head closer to Calix's. "He never wanted to leave you boys again but he didn't want you to give up more of yourself for your brother because of something he and I should've been there to stop you from doing in the first place," Calix said, knowing he was repeating Hohenheim's words but needing Ed to understand. Calix felt the moment Truth accepted the payment but he refused to let the flooding grief that almost overwhelmed him at Van's death seep into his bond with Ed as he fought to stay alive for a few more moments.

"Remember what I said to Ayala about how I wished I could have the two of you boys fight over whose turn it was to brush my mane and tail again?" Calix asked and Ed nodded. "Every moment Van and I had with you boys is a moment we will treasure no matter whether we're here with you or not," Calix told him softly. "I've never loved anyone as much as I loved Van but you boys sure came close to taking his place. Make sure you tell Alphonse that for me and that I'm sorry he didn't get to say goodbye, okay?" Calix asked and Ed let out a shuddering sigh before he nodded. "You make sure you never forget it either and don't waste your lives by holding onto the past. Let yourselves move forward," Calix pleaded as he felt Truth trying to claim him to complete the payment.

"I'll try," Ed whispered, voice trembling. He spoke solely to Calix, utilising their bond to give his answer and to let the horse know the Ed had forgiven him for everything a long time ago.

Calix pulled away from Ed with a peaceful sigh and Ayala took his place, cuddling into her human as much as she could as Calix breathed for the final time and Ed felt one of his bonds snap permanently for the first time. He let out a sharp cry of pain and grief and felt arms pull him tight against someone's chest. He didn't bother opening his eyes as he fought to keep Chester's healing energy flowing, knowing it had been Hughes who had grabbed him. He thought he felt a hand belonging to Izumi rest on his neck as his teacher offered him any comfort she could while the pain of losing a bonded Animal and his father tore through him. Ed didn't get the chance to say or do anything as he felt something foreign but strangely familiar invade his mind just before everything went black.


When Ed next opened his eyes, he almost groaned in irritation as he took in the familiar white walls and machinery of the Central hospital. Closing them again with the childish hope that when he opened them next, he would be in his hotel room or on the Hughes' couch or anywhere else, Ed opened them again to find the room unchanged and this time, he did snarl in annoyance. Looking over to his right, Ed found an automail arm attached to the port once more and he frowned at it, trying to figure out why he should be surprised to see automail there. Casting his mind back to try and figure out what the fuck he'd done to himself this time, he gasped and sat up straight as the memories from Promised Day came flooding back.

"Ed?" Ayala called as she put her front legs up on the hospital bed and nudged her human's cheek. "Ed, you're alright," she said and Ed breathed in a shaky breath.

"Yeah," Ed said in agreement as he felt the lingering loss of his bond with Calix in the back of his mind. "Hohenheim and Calix?" Ed asked, wanting to be certain.

"I'm sorry, Ed," Ayala told him, climbing up on the bed and nuzzling his cheek as he let himself grieve over the loss of his father and Animal as well as whatever their relationship could've been in the future.

"Alphonse? Chester?" Ed asked suddenly, having momentarily forgotten the whole reason Hohenheim had sacrificed himself and Calix while he tried to come to terms with the loss.

"They're alive and Al is back in his flesh body," Ayala said and Ed felt the weight he'd been carrying on his shoulders for the past six years lift from them, leaving him lighter than he could ever remember being. "Al isn't in great shape. His body is very malnourished and his muscles have atrophied from not being used. The doctors were forced to put him in a coma to give his body the chance to get some strength back before they put stress on him to get him back to being healthy," Ayala told him and Ed felt his heart thud loudly.

"Is he…?" Ed couldn't make himself finish the thought but Ayala knew what he was thinking.

"The doctor's are hopeful," she told him. "Mei visits every day to perform her healing array on him which is helping immensely and…" Ayala hesitated as she tried to figure out how to word what had happened. "When you lost consciousness after Hohenheim and Calix," this time Ayala didn't continue what she was saying, "well, after," she said instead and Ed nodded for her to continue. "It took a minute or so for Al to appear and Chester to wake up," she told him. "Al was wrapped in the black jacket Hohenheim had but he was conscious, though he couldn't keep his eyes open because the sunlight was too much for his eyes," Ayala told him. "Havoc noticed and tore some of his jacket off to create a blindfold. While Havoc was doing that, Chester woke up and headed straight for Alphonse," she said and again, Ed nodded. He wouldn't have expected Chester to do anything else in that situation. "When he and Al touched each other, their forms were encased in a silver glow like we were when we first bonded and when I healed you in Baschool," Ayala revealed and Ed gaped.

"How is that possible?" Ed asked. "They were already bonded and it didn't happen when Chester had appeared the first time," he said.

"Your father told us that we glowed, likely because our bond is so strong," Ayala said. "I think that if he was right than Chester and Al's bond must've become as strong as ours while Al was trapped in the armour. When they touched after Al being unable to actually feel Chester for so long and with their bond as strong as it is, it must've been enough to warrant that reaction," Ayala told him.

"So, what, that means that their bond is as strong as ours?" Ed asked, instinctively looking inside himself for Chester's energy to see how much there was and panicking when he realised he no longer held it.

"We think Truth knocked you out so it could take Chester's energy back from you and give it to Al now that he has a flesh body to hold it in," Ayala said, calming Ed down.

Ed sighed before giving her a self-deprecating smile. "Probably should've realised that for myself, huh?" he said but Ayala shook her head.

"With everything that's happened in the last 72 hours, I don't blame you for panicking over Chester's energy not being inside of you. Not after six years of you being its keeper," she told him honestly.

"'72 hours'?" Ed asked, his mind focusing on that part of her words and Ayala nodded.

"You've been unconscious for over two and a half days," Ayala told him but Ed frowned, lifting his automail arm.

"I obviously woke up at some point because Winry would never have attached this to me while I was unconscious," Ed said and Ayala nodded.

"You did wake up for about half an hour while Winry and Michella were here and you were lucid enough for Winry to attach the arm and adjust your leg but you lost consciousness again in the middle of her rant," Ayala informed him and Ed grimaced.

"Winry and Michella won't be happy about that," he said, imagining the lecture that awaited him in the future from the blonde mechanic and her monkey. Ayala laughed at him.

"You'll be safe for a while," she told him before sobering up. "Winry will have too many clients to look after for the next few months after the battle. She and Michella have already left Central but they did extract a promise from Hughes that he would call her when you were awake so she could yell at you over the phone," Ayala told him and Ed tried to smile but the thought of so many people needing automail after their battle dampened his spirits.

"What did the doctors say about me?" Ed asked, wanting to know how much he'll be yelled at for getting out of his bed to find his brother, which he fully intended to do once Ayala had answered him.

"You're fine," Ayala said. "The doctors have been waiting for you to wake up but none of your injuries are enough for you to stay in the hospital. I think they have plans to keep you for an extra 24 hours once you were awake, just to be safe, but other than that, you're fine to move around," Ayala told him and Ed sighed in relief before he removed the I.V. drip in his left arm with practised ease. Ayala rolled her eyes at him but Ed ignored her as he threw the blanket off, swung his feet over the edge and slipped off the bed.

"Do you know where Al and Ches are?" Ed asked as Ayala joined him on the floor and Ayala nodded, silently leading the way.

Ed's body trembled slightly, the physical exertion and resulting exhaustion from Promised Day still lingered, but he didn't let it slow him down. Thankfully though, Ayala only led him down the hall a few feet and into a room on the opposite side to his. As Ed reached the closed door, he automatically grasped the handle before hesitating. On the other side of this door, his brother and his leopard would be lying on a bed. His brother would be there in the flesh but he wouldn't be awake. Al would be unconscious and he would be skin and bones, if Ayala and Al's accounts weren't exaggerated, and Ed found himself unsure if he could face his brother like that. Ayala nudged his flesh hand and Ed gave her a silent nod before he took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"Al," Ed breathed as he took in the sight of his little brother's flesh body for the first time in six years.

The firs thing that Ed noticed wasn't how skinny his brother was nor how many needles and tubes were attached to his body but was, surprisingly, how long his hair was. Out of the two of them, Ed was the only one who'd wore their hair long and he'd only done so because his mother always said it reminded her of Hohenheim. His hatred for his father had never outweighed his love for his mother and he'd kept it long for her but Alphonse had always fussed when Trisha tried to get him to grow out his hair and in the end, she'd kept it short for him. Seeing Al's hair as long as his own, though much duller, was the undeniable proof of how long Al's body had spent in Truth's domain.

Chester stirred from where he lay on the bed, curled tightly at Al's feet and he blinked his eyes open, smiling when he saw Ed standing there. "It's good to see you awake," the leopard said, purring loudly in Ed's mind.

"You too," Ed said as he walked the few steps to Chester's side and rubbed the leopard's head in between his ears affectionately with his left hand. "You almost gave me a heart attack. You and Al both," Ed told him, voice trembling with the sudden onslaught of emotions that hit him and Chester was quick to get to his feet and rub his cheek against Ed's, placing his front feet on Ed's left shoulder though he was careful to avoid the injury there.

"I'm here," Chester said, giving Ed the comfort and assurances he needed without judgement and Ed clutched at the leopard he was so close to losing tightly. "I'm here and so is Al. We're both alive and we're gonna stay that way for as long as possible," Chester told him. "Seriously, I hope you plan on retiring with us to Creta or somewhere relaxing and with no power-hungry homunculi or rogue alchemists to deal with once Al's strong enough to leave the hospital," Chester informed him and Ed chuckled wetly.

"Yeah, I'm sure that Creta is completely free from idiot criminals and delusional homunculi," Ed said, laughing lightly.

"We'll make sure it is," Ayala said seriously, pairing the words with a growl that had both Chester and Ed laughed at her conviction.

"What do you think you're -? Oh, Lieutenant-Colonel Elric, you're awake." Ed turned his head to find Doctor Overland – the same doctor who'd treated him after the Fifth Laboratory and his fight with the Slicer Brothers, Envy and Lust – standing in the doorway of Al's room.

"Hey, Doc. Yeah, I woke – wait, what the hell did you just call me?" Ed asked as the doctor's words sunk in. "Did you just say 'Lieutenant-Colonel Elric'?" Ed asked and Overland nodded, frowning slightly.

"I was informed that you were promoted to lieutenant-colonel after the significant role you played in bringing down the threat to Amestris," Overland said. "I apologise, I had thought your Animal told you when you woke up," he said, giving Ayala a slightly reprimanding look.

"Whoops. Guess I forgot," Ayala said and Ed glared at her.

"You forgot?" Ed asked incredulously and Ayala shrugged her shoulders while Chester howled with laughter next to him. "Who the fuck promoted me? Was it Mustang? I bet it was Mustang. That conniving arsehole. I'll get him back for this and my revenge will be swift and merciless," Ed snarled as the two Animals continued laughing, Ayala unable to hold herself back from doing so any longer. Overland had simply rolled his eyes and started checking on Alphonse, as that was why he'd come into the room to start with.

"Settle down," Ayala said in between chuckles. "It was General Grumman who gave the promotions. Mustang has been in hospital as long as you and Al have. He couldn't have issued the promotions," Ayala told him and Ed felt his rage quell as Ayala's words sank in. "He did, however, agree to the promotion on your behalf when Grumman offered it," Ayala said and Ed's eyes sparked with anger once more.

"I'll kill him," Ed said but Overland glared at him from where he was marking things on Al's chart.

"You will do no such thing in this hospital, Lieutenant-Colonel Elric," Overland informed him sternly and Ed growled.

"I'll kill him once he's released then," Ed said and Overland rolled his eyes lightly.

"I really don't think a promotion is worth going to prison for," Overland snarked.

"Besides," Ayala said, "if you kill him, Nala will die too," Ayala pointed out and Ed sighed.

"Can I maim him?" Ed asked but Ayala shook her head. "Just a little?" Again, another headshake. "Prank him?" This time, he got a nod and Ed grinned. "I'm gonna make him regret this somehow," Ed swore.

"If you're done being overly dramatic?" Overland said and Ed nodded. "Good. First things; how are you feeling? Any headaches, dizziness, nausea?" Overland asked but Ed shook his head.

"I feel fine. Extremely tired and like I could sleep for a month but fine," Ed told him. Overland looked completely unsurprised by what Ed told him.

"After what I heard you went through three days ago, I was expecting that," Overland said. "You'll be kept here for tonight but if you still only feel tired in the morning, you can be released," Overland told him.

Ed sighed but nodded. "Okay, Doc," Ed said, giving no arguments. He'd be spending a lot of time in the hospital while Al recovered so he figured he might as well get used to it.

Overland seemed surprised but pleased with Ed's newfound agreeability. "Wonderful," Overland said. "Now, your brother," Overland said and Ed's attention was fully on the man. "As you can probably tell, he's extremely malnourished, dehydrated and his muscles are severely atrophied. Whatever he went through has been hard on his body but," Overland said, looking at Ed, "we're optimistic about his recovery," he told him. "There's a young Xingese alkahestrist who's been more than happy to perform her healing array on your brother each day he's been here and we're seeing massive improvements thanks to it. She's agreed to continue coming in every day until Alphonse is conscious and can chose whether to continue the treatment himself," Overland informed and Ed nodded.

"Yeah, Ayala told me Mei was helping out," Ed said. "What's his recovery time looking like?" Ed asked and Overland sighed.

"Honestly? I couldn't tell you," Overland admitted. "Right now, he could wake up by the end of the week as we plan to bring him out of his medically induced coma in another day but having said that, his body might go into a natural coma of its own in a continued effort to heal him faster," Overland said. "Once he's awake it'll depend on how well he's recovering. Until we have that information, I couldn't even give you a ballpark figure," Overland told Ed, a little regretfully.

"Okay," Ed said, looking back at Al. "Thanks, Doc," Ed said before letting out a small sigh. "Is it alright if I stay here with him?" Ed asked, gesturing to the empty seat next to Al's bed and Overland pursed his lips in thought.

"You'll need to sleep in your own room tonight," Overland told him, "but I see no reason why you can't stay in here for the day. I'll let your visitors know you'll be in here when they turn up," Overland said and Ed frowned.

"'Visitors'?" Ed asked and Overland nodded.

"You've had a deluge of people checking in on you every day while you were unconscious," Overland told him and from the slightly irritated expression on his face, Ed figured a couple of those visitors had been disruptive somehow. "I imagine today will be no different," Overland sighed slightly.

"Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it," Ed said, electing not to question the man about which visitors caused that tone of voice.

"Just don't cause any problems," Overland said and Ed gave him a solemn nod. "I'll leave you to it. I'll pay another visit before my shift ends tonight," Overland said and Ed nodded.

"Oh, before you go, Doc," Ed said, stopping the man in his tracks. "How are Lieutenant Hawkeye and Colonel Mustang? Miss Riza had a lot of blood on her shirt when I saw her last," Ed said and Overland seemed to be debating with himself on how to answer Ed.

"I can't give you specifics. Doctor-patient confidentiality," Overland said and Ed gave him a nod of understanding. "They're both doing well and I expect them to make a full recovery. I believe Doctor Marcoh saw them yesterday and offered his own help," Overland said.

That got Ed's attention because he knew Mei had been given Marcoh's liquid stone to take to Xing when Al and Scar convinced her to leave a couple of months before Promised Day. Ed could remember Ling telling him just after Father was defeated that the Yao clan was taking the Chang clan under their wing and offering them protection. He could also remember Ling telling him that Mei would have no need for a stone so that led Ed to assume Mei had returned Marcoh's stone to him and if it had been returned than Marcoh might've used it on Hawkeye and Mustang.

"Thanks, Doc," Ed said once more. "See you later," Ed said and the doctor gave a confirming nod before he left the room. Once the door was shut, Ed claimed the seat next to Al's bed and turned to the Animals, crossing his legs up underneath him. "So who the hell has been pissing the doctor off?"


Barely half an hour after Ayala and Chester started regaling him with stories about who had been annoying Overland – Major Armstrong and Greed, to Ed's lack of surprise – Al received some visitors of his own. Overland had been nice enough to shut the door behind him before he left so Ed had a moment to figure out who was about to walk into the room, thanks to the two Animals with them. So when the Hughes family walked into Al's hospital room, Ed was completely unsurprised.

"Big brother Ed! You're awake!" Elysia exclaimed the moment she saw him sitting next to Al's bedside. Ed was barely able to adjust himself so he could grab the six-year-old before she slammed into any of his bruises.

"Hey, El," Ed said, lifting the young girl up and onto his lap so they could hug each other tighter. Leo and Lilith both rubbed up against his legs in greeting before they curled up together under his chair so they wouldn't be in the way.

"I'm sorry about your daddy," Elysia said as she snuggled into his neck and Ed felt himself stiffen slightly. Thankfully, Elysia didn't seem to notice. "Daddy told Mama what happened to him and his horse. I'm really sorry, Ed."

"Thank you, El," Ed said, trying his hardest not to show his discomfort at speaking about Hohenheim's death. Both Hughes and Gracia looked a mixture of proud that their daughter was so compassionate but apologetic that she'd brought Hohenheim up at all. Ed ended up giving them a small smile, telling them he wasn't mad at them as he squeezed Elysia just as tightly as she was hugging him.

"How are you, Ed?" Gracia asked as she knelt slightly in front of his chair and cupped the cheek Elysia wasn't pressed against and looked him over for any signs of pain.

"I'm fine, Miss Gracia," Ed told her honestly. "Just really tired still," he said. "Doc's said I can be discharged in the morning so long as my only complaint is still being tired."

"Doctor Overland told us as much when we spoke to him yesterday," Hughes said before pinching his face slightly. "Well, in all honesty, he told Roy since he's your other emergency contact aside from Al but we were in the room as well," Hughes told him. Neither adult brought up Hohenheim or Calix, something Ed was grateful for because getting sympathy from Elysia over their death was one thing. He wasn't confident enough about how he'd react to Hohenheim and Calix's deaths being mentioned to want to risk what would happen in front of Elysia.

"You were asleep for over two days, big brother! How can you still be tired?" Elysia asked, moving so she was looking Ed in the eyes quizzically.

"Elysia, you know how all the soldiers were in a big fight three days ago?" Hughes asked before Ed could respond and Elysia nodded. "Your big brothers fought alongside everyone. We told you how Ed was the one who managed to take down the bad guy, remember?"

"I remember, daddy," Elysia said and Hughes gave her a smile.

"Good," he said. "Ed's still tired even though he was asleep for so long because his body is still trying to recover from everything he did three days ago. The bad guy was really strong so it took Ed using a lot of energy to take care of him. Do you understand?" Hughes asked and Elysia screwed up her face in thought.

"Big Brother Ed is still tired because his body is tired," Elysia said and Hughes grinned at her.

"That's exactly it, angel," Hughes told her, tickling her cheek with a finger and making Elysia squirm and giggle. Hughes' attention turned back to Ed. "Did Doctor Overland tell you anything about Al?" he asked and Ed nodded as Gracia straightened and leaned against the foot of Al's bed, looking just as curious and worried as her husband.

"Sort of," Ed said. "They're still optimistic that he's going to make a full recovery but until he's awake and they get a better idea of how much Mei's alkahestry is helping him if he accepts her continued help, they can't tell me any sort of timeframe. They want to bring him out of the induced coma tomorrow but Doc was quick to tell me that it's likely that his body will stay in a comatose state though," Ed told them and both of the adult Hughes' looked relieved.

"That's good to hear. I'm sure that if he's as stubborn as you are, it won't be long until he's up and about," Hughes said, his lips quirked into a half smile while Ed rolled his eyes, his own grin on his lips.

"Yeah, more than likely. Not much can keep us Elrics down after all," Ed said, the familiar words making Gracia look a lot less concerned than she had been. "How's everyone else? What's been going on?" Ed asked, switching the topic to something else.

"How about the two of you talk about that outside in the hallway? Elysia and I would like to check on Alphonse without being distracted by your conversation," Gracia said, pointedly looking at her daughter, who was still in Ed's lap.

"Of course, dear," Hughes said, straightening from the relaxed stance he was in. "Come on, Elysia. Your big brother and I need to talk. You can tell Alphonse all about what you've been up too since you last spoke to him," Hughes said but Elysia didn't move from her spot.

"I'll be right back, Elysia," Ed said, figuring that was why she didn't do as her father said and her big green eyes blinked up at him. "Your dad and I need to talk about boring military things and I'm sure both Chester and Al will want to hear about your day," Ed told her with a smile. Chester nodded as enthusiastically as he could manage when Elysia looked over at him.

"You'll be right back?" Elysia asked, her bottom lip wobbling and Ed nodded.

"I promise," Ed said and that was enough for the young girl. She allowed Ed to place her on the chair once he was up and he, Hughes and Ayala left the room. "So what happened?" Ed asked once more the moment the door swung shut behind them. There wasn't anyone else in the hallway except for a nurse who was making her checks on the patients in the other rooms but she was further down the corridor.

"We lost several soldiers during the fight, both from Briggs and East City. Though I know Roy ordered our side to aim to only take down the other side, not kill them, they suffered their own losses," Hughes said. "I know you were already told about Captain Buccaneer, Eric and Fu but no one else you knew lost their lives," Hughes said and Ed nodded. He hadn't forgotten that Buccaneer, Eric and Fu had both died and the loss he felt still stung lightly. He may not have been awfully close to the two humans but they were good men and he grieved their loss even as he felt relief at the fact that no one else he knew had died. "As for what's happening, Grumman has ascended to Fuhrer since he was the highest ranked general who we were sure wasn't on Bradley's side. He's only been in power for three days but he's already making some big decisions," Hughes told him.

"Like what?" Ed asked curiously. "Aside from promoting people who didn't want to be promoted," Ed grumbled, still sore about his new rank. To add to his irritation, Hughes just grinned at him.

"After offering promotions to those who fought alongside you and Roy – including me, by the way – so he could fill the ranks and prevent the military from falling," Hughes said as Ed continued scowling, though the blonde did offer him a congratulations which Hughes accepted with a small nod and grin, "he held a press conference where he announced that everything that Gracia had said over the radio was true, that Bradley had been a homunculous, as was Selim, and he gave the public his promise that from that moment forward, the military would be completely transparent with what they were doing. Once he'd announced that, he then went on to lay out the plans for how the military would be helping Central recover and rebuild after the battle," Hughes reported. "Right now, everything I've been hearing from the public has said that Grumman and his plans have been met with approval," Hughes told Ed, who gave a small sigh of relief.

"So the public isn't going to riot or make a fuss over everything?" Ed asked, needing the confirmation and Hughes nodded.

"Not at the moment but every hour that passes by where no one starts something means the chances of us having a riot break out gets even smaller," Hughes told him. "Grumman has promised another press conference in a month's time when most of the rebuilding has started and Central has gotten back into something of a routine so he can answer more questions but what he's told the public seems to have been enough to quell their need for answers," Hughes said.

"Well that's good," Ed said. "One less headache for everyone to deal with. How did the public take the news about Bradley and Selim? I can't imagine all of them bought it when Miss Gracia told them over the radio," Ed said and Hughes nodded.

"You'd have been right. Gracia managed to keep people in their homes for the most part just because what she was saying seemed so fantastical that they needed to know what else she was saying but a lot of the public didn't fully buy her story," Hughes said, sounding like he was still mad about the fact that anyone would have the audacity not to believe his wife outright. Ayala and Ed shared an eyeroll that Hughes didn't seem to notice. "When Grumman confirmed the fact that they were homunculi and that Selim was over two hundred years old, the public had been stunned long enough for Grumman to produce some proof that Roy's aunt managed to dig up for him."

"Wait, why did Mustang have someone dig up proof in the first place?" Ed asked curiously. He would have never bothered finding proof of what Bradley and Selim were since Ayala and Chester had confirmed they were homunculi.

"So that we would have something other than our words to prove what they were," Hughes said. "You may have been believed by most because of your standing in the public but you still would've had people who wouldn't have bought it. I think Roy foresaw the problem and asked his aunt to use her information network to find physical proof people would be able to see and check for themselves. It worked since a lot of the people who were the loudest in voicing their disbelief had been quietened by it," Hughes explained.

"Well, even Mustang has to have a good idea every now and then," Ed said, causing Hughes to laugh.

"At least my track record of good ideas outweighs your own, Fullmetal." Mustang's familiar drawl sounded from behind Ed and he glanced over his shoulder to give his commanding officer a flat look.

"You keep on believing that," Ed snarked as he took in the man's appearance. His hands were still bandaged to protect the injuries but the black and white strips Ed and Izumi had used had been replaced with the pristine white of hospital bandages. Most noticeable though, were that his eyes were no longer cloudy and unfocused. Nala walked beside him and Ed grinned at the sight of her. "Hey, Nala," Ed said to the lioness who was obviously using all of her self-control to stop herself from running at him in much the same manner Elysia had done earlier.

"Hey, yourself," Nala said before giving into her urges when Ed crouched down and wrapping him in a hug. "You had everyone so worried. You just lost consciousness with no warning! What happened to you?" she asked as she nuzzled his cheek, delighted he was awake once more.

"I'd like to know that for myself. You had no head injuries that could've been the reason behind your lack of consciousness. The doctors couldn't find a physical reason for it either," Mustang said. Ed sighed as he gave Nala another hug before he started straightening, giving her enough time to back off before he straightened all the way up.

"I don't know for certain," Ed started saying as he thought about that foreign yet familiar presence he'd felt in his mind just after Calix had passed and just before he couldn't remember anything further, "but I think Truth knocked me out somehow," Ed said, remembering Ayala's theory. "It probably couldn't take Chester's energy from me while I was awake so it did something to me so I wouldn't be," Ed told them.

"But weren't you awake when you were given Chester's energy after your accident?" Hughes asked. "Why couldn't Truth take it from you while you were conscious but could give it to you?"

Ed shook his head. "No, I lost consciousness seconds after I brought Al back. I never felt Chester's energy in me until I woke back up afterwards at Granny's," Ed told him.

"Oh, that makes sense," Hughes said, causing Mustang to roll his eyes at his best friend. "Should you even be out of bed? You were blind yesterday!" Hughes said, turning on Mustang.

"He was unconscious for two days!" Mustang said, gesturing to Ed. "Why don't you mother-hen him instead of me?"

"What are you? 6?" Ed asked, earning a glare from Mustang for his comment.

"Edward knows his limits when it comes to waking up from being unconscious. He's had enough damned experience with that. You, however, have never been blind then not blind before," Hughes sniffed at him. Ed wasn't sure whether he imagined the reproachful tone in Hughes' voice when he spoke about Ed or not before seeing the look on Ayala's face and realised that he hadn't misheard.

"Well, I assume I'm allowed to walk wherever I damn well want since my doctor hasn't said otherwise," Mustang snapped. Seeing the offended look on Hughes' face, Ed made the executive decision to go and get Gracia so she could separate the two before one of the nurses or doctors had to.


Both Ayala and Nala followed him the few steps it took to get to Al's room but Nala stayed outside the room while Ed ducked inside. Both Gracia and Elysia looked up when he entered and both of them gave him smiles, though Elysia's was far brighter since she was happy Ed had kept his promise. Chester, Leo and Lilith looked up as well but both foxes did nothing more than greet Ed happily while Chester got to his feet and headed over to say hello to Nala.

"What's going on?" Gracia asked when her husband didn't follow Ed into the room.

"Mustang turned up and now they're about to get into an argument because Hughes is fussing," Ed said and grinned amusedly when all Gracia did was sigh.

"I'll go and separate them," she said. "We wanted to say hello to Roy and Riza while we were here now anyway," Gracia said before giving Ed another warm smile. "We'll come back and say goodbye to you before we leave," she promised and Ed nodded.

"I'll be here," he told her, gesturing to the chair Elysia was still perched on.

"Good," Gracia said as she started moving towards the door, "because Maes and I would be most upset if you decided to break out of the hospital, especially since you're going to be released so soon anyway," she told him, garnering a chuckle from Ed.

"I already promised Ayala, Chester and Doc that I would stay here until I was discharged by him," Ed said. From next to him, Ayala nodded and when Gracia looked at him, so did Chester. Ed wasn't sure whether he should be offended or not by the fact that Gracia sought confirmation from the Animals.

"Considering your tendency to try and leave the hospital the moment you're awake and able to? I wouldn't bother being offended," Ayala informed him dryly. The glare Ed sent her way didn't seem to faze the golden wolf in the slightest.

"Come on, Elysia. Let's make sure your dad doesn't irritate your uncle too much," Gracia said once she realised the young girl hadn't followed her.

"Can I stay here with Ed and Ayala? Please?" Elysia pleaded. Upon seeing Gracia's hesitation, Ed intervened.

"It's alright with me if she does. I only planned on talking to Ayala and Ches about what happened anyway," Ed said.

"Alright," Gracia said, knowing that Elysia would be difficult if Gracia insisted she leave them now that Ed was awake and not wanting to risk her daughter having a tantrum in the middle of the hospital and annoying everyone else who was recovering from various injuries and illnesses. "You behave yourself for your big brother, alright? We'll be back in a few minutes to say goodbye and head home," Gracia promised and Ed nodded while Elysia cheered at her victory.

"I'll be good, Mama," Elysia swore when Gracia gave her an expectant look.

"Good," Gracia said to her. "I'll go and settle those two down now," Gracia said, sighing as though she was talking about a chore she'd had to perform numerous times and Ed hid his grin in Elysia's hair as he picked her up so he could sit down in the only chair in the room.

"Have fun," Ed said as he and Elysia waved to her encouragingly.

"Oh, I'm sure I will," Gracia said with a small, slightly mischievous smile. She glanced down to the two foxes but when neither moved, she gave a small shrug and waved goodbye before she shut the door behind her once Chester had slipped back into the room.

"How come you two didn't go?" Ed asked the two foxes as he settled himself and Elysia as comfortably as he could on the chair.

"We wanted to spend some time with you now that you're awake," Lilith told him honestly and Ed felt a small flush crawl up his neck. "We also wanted to make sure you were alright. And I don't mean physically," Lilith told him, adding the last part when she felt his standard response of 'I'm fine' about to be said.

"What do you mean?" Ed asked even though he had a pretty good idea what they were referring to.

"You lost your father," Lilith said gently, "and you felt the loss of his Animal. We wanted to see whether you were alright," she told him. Ed could feel Leo in his mind, the male grey fox just as curious and concerned as Lilith.

"Yeah, I am at the moment," Ed said. Despite the fact that he wasn't speaking out loud, his voice grew quiet. Elysia didn't seem to notice anything as she regaled Chester, Ayala and Al with a tale about what she'd done the previous night. "I don't think it's actually registered in my mind that they sacrificed themselves for us. We didn't have them in our lives for 12 years and I've only spent, at most, four days with him and Calix since Granny asked me and Ayala to pay Resembool a visit a few months back," Ed said. "I'm so used to them not being around us that I think most of me thinks that they've just left us again," he admitted.

"Will you let someone know when it does hit you?" Lilith asked, her sweet voice concerned.

"You know Maes and Gracia wouldn't judge you when you finally need to grieve your loss," Leo added when Ed's kneejerk reaction to tell them that he'd be fine dealing with it on his own or with just Ayala there to help him through it could be sensed by both Animals. "They'd listen to you as you tried to figure everything out, if you needed them too," he said.

Ed felt his mind debate with itself. He knew Leo was right and that both Gracia and Hughes would help him through the loss of Hohenheim and Calix when their deaths actually hit him. He knew neither of them, or several other people he knew for that matter, would judge him or belittle him for showing emotion but, at the same, he'd spent so long trying to act in the manner the military expected from its soldiers rather than the teenager he was. Showing any sort of negative emotion like grief was only accepted for a certain amount of time but you couldn't show too much of that emotion in front of your fellows.

"I'll try," Ed finally said, knowing the answer wouldn't be what Lilith or Leo wanted but it was the best he could give them. Thankfully, the two seemed to accept that answer.

"It's all we ask," Lilith said. Ed thought he felt one of them nudge the back of his right leg but the pressure was pulled away before he could check who it was.

"Big brother Ed, are you even listening to me?" Elysia's demanding and unimpressed voice broke Ed from his thoughts and brought his attention to her.

"Sorry, El, but I was talking with your parents Animals," Ed apologised, ignoring the snickering he could hear from Chester and Ayala in response to Elysia's pout. "What were you saying?"

"I was telling you about the game Mama, Daddy and I played last night," Elysia told him with all of the exasperation the six-year-old could manage.

"Aw, I'm sorry I missed hearing about it," Ed said, making sure he sounded appropriately upset over the fact he didn't hear one of her stories.

Elysia let out a sigh that would've rivalled one of her mother's when she'd called Hughes three times for dinner already but he was too lost in his current investigation to hear her. "I suppose I can tell you about it again," she said and Ed gave her a tight hug.

"I would certainly appreciate that, Princess," Ed said, tickling her a little until she squealed and squirmed to get away from the attack.

"Okay but all of the Animals have to promise not to distract you again," Elysia told him before she glared at both Ayala and Chester, both of whom gave her solemn nods. She even wriggled out of his grip to look at the foxes underneath the chair. Ed could only assume they nodded because she was soon back in his lap. "So Daddy was the monster and Mama was the unicorn and I was the princess…"


"I've been tasked with escorting you to Roy's room." Nala's voice was in his mind, startling him slightly as he hadn't been expecting it.

Ed had been sitting in silence for the most of the last hour, Elysia, Leo and Lilith having been collected by Gracia and Hughes half an hour after Gracia had gone to wrangle her husband. After having spent the next three hours assuring various Animals that he was alright and the prognosis on Al, he'd only spoken with Ayala, Chester and one of the nurses who had come by to check on him and Al in that last hour. She'd even managed to extract a promise from Ed that he would return to his room within thirty minutes of her speaking with him and that time was drawing close.

"Why?" Ed asked, feeling his irritation already spike. He didn't have to explain why to both Ayala and Chester since he wasn't blocking them from the conversation.

"He wants to speak with you," Nala said. "I promise I'll smother him if he starts annoying you beyond acceptable levels," Nala added when she sensed his debate about whether it would be worth the lecture he'd receive if he just didn't go.

Ed sighed in resignation. "Fine. What room number is he?" Ed asked as he got to his feet.

"I'm outside," Nala told him with a laugh as Ed realised that he could sense an Animal he was bonded with outside Al's room and hadn't even noticed.

"Yes, you are," Ed said, laughing at himself. "Are you coming with, Ches, or are you gonna stay here?" Ed asked the leopard.

"I'll stay here with Al," Chester said, a touch of an apology in his voice but Ed just nodded.

"No worries. I'll head back to my room after I've spoke with Colonel Bastard so I'll see you tomorrow," Ed told him.

"Brigadier-General," Nala corrected and Ed rolled his eyes.

"I'm gonna keep calling him 'Colonel Bastard' and see how long it takes for him start ranting at me about proper use of ranks," Ed warned her.

"At least it'll make up for the near four months of boredom I've had to put up with," Nala said with an irritated sigh at her memories that had Ed chuckling before he focused back on Chester.

"You'd better let me know what you want for breakfast so I can have Du ask Breda to pick something up when he visits," Ed said and Chester nodded as he curled back up at Al's feet. Ed gave the leopard an understanding look before he ruffled his ears. "Al will be awake soon. You know he will," Ed said and Chester gave a long sigh.

"I know and I know he'll be alright. It's not just the doctors saying that. I know he'll be fine but he just looks so fragile that I'm so worried that I'm wrong," Chester admitted quietly.

"Your instincts have never been wrong before, right?" Ed asked and Chester nodded. "Don't start doubting them now. Your instincts say Al will be alright so listen to them. Don't make the same mistakes Al and I did when you and Aya told us what your instincts were saying and we ignored you two," Ed said, memories of the night of their failed transmutation and the chimera made from Nina and Alexander springing to his mind before he buried them violently back down.

"Yeah, you're right," Chester said and Ed was happy to feel his optimism grow. "Thanks, Ed," Chester said, rubbing his head against the hand that still rested on it.

"Anytime," Ed told him, scratching one of his ears before he retracted his hand. "Don't forget to tell me what you want for breakfast and wake me if something happens," Ed said. Once Chester had promised he would do both things, Ed and Ayala left the room.

"How's everything?" Nala asked the moment they were through the door and Ed nodded as he closed it.

"About as good as it can be, I suppose," Ed told her. "So what does your human want to talk to me about now?" Ed asked and Nala shrugged.

"I think he just wants to check on you, if I'm being honest. He'll never admit it but you had him worried the last couple of days," Nala said casually.

"Really?" Ed asked but – to Nala's and Ayala's surprise – he didn't scoff the word like he usually would've. Instead, he asked as though he was afraid Nala was joking but really didn't want her to be.

"Really," Nala confirmed. "Your being unconscious for so long with no known reason mixed with what happened just before you lost consciousness and then what happened back in Father's lair when he opened your gateways and used the energy to absorb god has really had Roy worried about you," Nala said. "I don't think Roy's ever been so close to showing how much he truly cares about you as he had been when you realised you couldn't feel any of the Animals. If he wasn't so emotionally constipated, he would've been trying to comfort you alongside Hohenheim, Izumi and Al," Nala told him.

Ed didn't respond to her as they continued walking casually down the hallway but Nala didn't seem to mind as he thought over what she'd said. He knew there had been a few times throughout the last five years where he'd caught himself wondering if Mustang cared about him as much as Ayala, Chester and Nala insisted he did before he'd convinced himself he was being a hopeful idiot. But the last few months, since Baschool if he was being honest, Ed found himself toying with the idea that maybe the Animals were right after all. If Mustang truly didn't care, he wouldn't have been constantly annoying Nala for updates on his healing and he knew his commanding officer was because Nala had shared memories of it after he hadn't believed her when she'd told him.

Then there had been moments between his seeing Hohenheim and Calix for the first time since he was four in Resembool and his second trip to North City and Fort Briggs when he thought he'd seen Mustang go to ask something when Al had brought Hohenheim up around him. Ed had been trying harder in that time to not lose his temper and snap at Al since he'd known his younger brother would likely bring their father up more often after Ed had seen him but some days it had been really hard to just bite his tongue. On those days, he had seen Mustang open his mouth before closing it and Ed had always assumed he was about to make some snarky comment only to have been told off by Nala before he could but now Ed was thinking that it was possible that Mustang had been trying to ask whether he was alright but didn't know how to.

Neither Nala nor Ayala so much as whispered a comment to each other, on the off-chance Ed heard them and grew embarrassed by the fact that they could hear his thoughts going 100 miles an hour over this revelation. Instead, they just shared an eyeroll and glared at the blonde's back with an 'I told you so' expression worthy of anyone who had spent five years trying to convince someone of something. Ayala did end up breaking Ed from his thoughts when she tugged on the bottom of his hospital shirt to stop him when Nala halted in front of Mustang's room and Ed looked like he was gonna keep going.

"I'm sure your brother and both Ayala and Chester have told you at least once to pay attention to where you're going," Nala said, voice filled with laughter as Ed's cheeks pinked.

"Zip it," he mumbled in lieu of an actual comeback and scowled when that sent Nala into a fit of chuckles. "You're so mean to me," Ed groused and his comment caused the lioness to roll her eyes.

"You know full well that I love you and am nicer to you than I am to most people," Nala said, dismissing his theatrics and Ed grinned.

"Yeah, that's true," he agreed, unable to argue with her since Ed had witnessed just how Nala treated people she found intolerable. It varied from who it was and what rank they held but he had witnessed her full-on snarling when someone she didn't like entered Mustang's office while he, Al and their Animals had been there to turn in Ed's latest mission report. Then there had been the time when she caused someone to trip by 'accidentally' not realising they were there and crossing into their path.

Nala titled her head as she listened to something only she could hear before grinning slightly. "Roy is getting impatient. Unlike some people I could name but won't – Edward – he can sense me outside the door and wants to know what's taking so long," Nala said.

Ed rolled his eyes. "Would you just let it go already?" Ed asked. Nala didn't answer verbally but the smirk on her face told him what it would've been anyways. Shaking his head slightly, Ed reached out and opened the door to Mustang's room, letting the two Animals go in first before he entered himself and shut the door. Looking up, Ed glared at Mustang, though it wasn't filled with annoyance he was trying to show but he elected to ignore that. "What do you want?"

Mustang fixed him with a flat look as Nala joined him on his bed. He was still dressed in the hospital garb similar to what Ed wore but his hair was wet and Ed thought the bandages on his hands were new ones. Eyeing the bandages now that he'd had some time to just start processing everything, Ed wondered why his hands were even bandaged if Marcoh had been by to heal his eyes. Ed knew that the injuries Mustang had suffered would've done some permanent damage to his hands and, more specifically, would've made it damn near impossible to snap to create his alchemy once they healed fully so Ed was a little more than curious as to why Mustang wouldn't have asked Marcoh to heal them as well as his eyes.

"Take a seat, Fullmetal. There are some things we need to go over," Mustang said, nodding to the empty chair. The man had an air of seriousness and sympathy – something that confused Ed – about him so, for once, Ed didn't argue or complain at being given an order and did as he was told. Nala immediately shifted so she was within reach of Ed while still next to Mustang on the bed and Ayala sat right against Ed's flesh leg, pressing herself against the entirety of his lower leg.

"Alright, what?" Ed asked when Mustang didn't speak for a few seconds after Ed had taken the seat. He'd noticed his commanding officer looked a little unsure about what he was trying to say but Ed had a feeling Nala would not be on his side if he started teasing the man so he left it.

"Firstly, my condolences about Hohenheim and Calix. I know you and your father had plenty of issues you still needed to work out but the loss of a parent is never an easy one, no matter your relationship with them," Mustang said, a little stiffly but with enough empathy that Ed was reminded starkly of the fact that Mustang had lost both his parents at a young age and knew what Ed was going through more so than others might. That reminder was enough to stop Ed from snapping at Mustang that he was fine and that he didn't care that Hohenheim was dead.

Unable to think of how to respond to Mustang's words, Ed simply gave a nod though he refused to meet the other alchemist's eyes. Because of this, he didn't see the flash of sympathy cross Mustang's face before the man cleared his throat. "The next thing is your father and Calix's funeral. Pinako Rockbell has already claimed their bodies on your behalf and arranged transport for them to Resembool. Since they'd both played instrumental roles in saving Amestris and the military, Fuhrer Grumman has offered to pay for transporting their bodies and their funerals. You will, of course, be granted the time off to attend the funeral," Mustang told him.

"'Their bodies'?" Ed asked, faced pinched with confusion. "But Truth took Hohenheim while he was in its dimension. There should only be Calix's," Ed said and Mustang's features softened slightly.

"His body was returned when Alphonse was after you'd collapsed," Mustang told him in a tone gentler than Ed could ever remember him using.

"Oh," Ed said softly. Ayala pushed her head under his left hand, twisting herself slightly to do so. "I didn't think Truth would've given it back," Ed admitted.

Mustang wasn't quite sure how to respond to that so he simply continued as though Ed hadn't made the comment. "As I said, Pinako Rockbell is escorting them back to Resembool. I imagine she'll have her Animal contact you once the funeral's arranged," Mustang said.

"If Al's awake and tells me to go, I'll go but if he isn't," Ed said, shaking his head, "I won't leave him here without me, not when he's going to wake up any day now. I won't do it," Ed said but Mustang got the feeling he wasn't directing those words at anyone other than himself.

"Fullm- Ed," Mustang said, choosing to use Ed's real name rather than title and that got the blonde's attention on him for the first time since Mustang mentioned Hohenheim. "No one will make you chose between being here for Alphonse or heading home for Hohenheim's funeral. Everyone will understand why you chose Alphonse and no one will judge you for it," Mustang told him.

Again, Ed didn't know how to respond to Mustang being so understanding so he simply nodded, dropping eye contact once more. Mustang gave a small, internal sigh of annoyance but it wasn't directed towards Edward. Instead, it was directed towards himself and his inability to show anyone he cared for just how much he did so, be it through sincere praise or moments like this, where he ignored military protocol about how he should act with his subordinates. The fact that he wanted to show Ed how he truly felt, only to then have Ed have no clue how to deal with it had him angry with himself. Because of this, he hesitated before he spoke next, unsure whether it was wise to continue as he planned or to leave it for now.

"Don't you dare," Nala snapped at him. From the lack of reaction, she'd cut Ed out of the conversation so he wouldn't hear. "You know full well that if you back out now, you won't get another chance and you are equally aware that Ed deserves to have this conversation with you while you're determined to be completely open with him rather than hide behind the mask the military expects you to wear," Nala told him, eyes flashing warningly as she let him imagine the amount of trouble he'd be in if he did back out.

"The other reason I asked Nala to escort you here is because I wanted to make sure you're okay," Mustang said. Again, Ed's eyes shot up to meet his but this time they were filled with surprise and a little bit of suspicion. Mustang couldn't even be mad about the second emotion since the few times he'd asked after Edward's health from the boy himself had been followed with snide remarks about not wanting more paperwork caused by him.

"I'm fine," Ed told him. It wasn't quite a snap but it was close. "Doc said I could be discharged in the morning as long as I have nothing other than being tired to complain about," Ed added. He didn't bother to mention his only significant injury and the fact he'd need to see Doctor Overland in a few weeks for a check up since he figured the flame alchemist had already been told.

"Ed, you know I wasn't talking about your physical health though I am glad you came through that fight with such minor injuries," Mustang said honestly. He'd truly been relieved when the doctor's had found no medical reason to explain the sudden loss of consciousness, even if his worry had then skyrocketed because now they had no clue what had happened until Ayala had told Nala her hypothesis. "You went through far more than everyone else on Promised Day so I'd appreciate an honest answer about how you are," Mustang said firmly. He hadn't been able to get the image of Ed's distress when he realised he couldn't feel any Animal he was bonded to, other than the five in the room with them after Father had forced their gateways open, out of his head. It was one of the few times he truly regretted allowing Nala to sight-share with him in the short time he'd been blind so he could see what was happening around him.

Ed squirmed uncomfortably under Mustang's openly concerned expression. Part of the blonde was telling him that this was a sick joke; that Mustang didn't truly care but the other, much bigger part of him believed that his commanding officer was genuinely worried about him. Before he could stop himself, he glanced over at Nala and met the lioness' eyes. Knowing what he was silently asking her, she gave a simple nod and flooded their bond with her assurances that Mustang was being sincere. Ayala pushed herself further into his flesh hand and he felt her encouragement flow through their bond to mingle with Nala's own. Choosing to believe in the two Animals who had never steered him wrong, Ed faced Mustang once more.

"Right now, I'm fine because I don't think I've let everything that's happened hit me yet," Ed admitted, nearly repeating what he'd said to Lilith and Leo when Gracia and Hughes had been with Mustang. "I'll probably continue ignoring it for the next few days or couple of weeks because I'll be too worried about Al but yeah, right now I'm alright," Ed said. He noticed Mustang's slight grimace but Nala explained before he could ask.

"He's not happy about how casual you sounded. It's made him realise how used to burying your emotions until they could be dealt with at a later time you are," Nala informed him. Knowing what he was about to ask next, Nala answered before he could. "He thinks that he's part of the reason you've developed that habit and he wishes he hadn't been."

"Oh," was all Ed could say in response. The blonde would've laughed at the betrayed look Mustang gave Nala at any other time but this time he saw it for what it was: confirmation that Mustang cared for him more than he'd been letting on. After all, why would Mustang be annoyed at Nala for saying that if it wasn't true? If Nala had been playing a trick, Mustang simply would've said so even if Ed would've been able to tell for himself.

"When you do feel the weight of everything that happened, will you please speak to someone? I know you likely wouldn't be comfortable talking with me but Hughes would listen to you without judgement, as would any of the team and – if you asked them to – they would never tell anyone about what happened," Mustang said, speaking a touch quicker than he usually would and Ed realised something. Not only was this a request instead of an order but Mustang was worried that Ed would lash out at him for asking.

"I promised Leo and Lilith I would try and talk to someone," Ed said. The corner of his lips twitched upwards for a moment at Mustang's surprised expression.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. What you went through is more than anyone else suffered so I'm happy that you'll try and find help from someone if you need it," Mustang said a little awkwardly but completely sincere.

"Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" Ed asked after a few seconds of silence that was growing increasingly awkward. "Because I promised the nurse I'd be back in my own room shortly and Nurse Keely is not one of the nurses who takes people not keeping their word lightly," Ed said, shuddering at the one and only time he'd tried pulling one over on the nurse in question. He'd never tried to do so after that and Keely had been quick to make he said the words 'I promise' so he would have to do as he said.

"Actually, there is one final thing," Mustang said. He must've noticed the slightly uncomfortable look on Ed's face since his eyes shone with amusement for a moment. "Fuhrer Grumman noticed when he pulled your file that your contract with the military is nearly up. He has asked that you give serious thought to whether you plan to renew your contract or leave the military when your current contract expires. He doesn't," Mustang said when Ed went to open his mouth, "expect you to answer right away. He's aware that a lot of your decision will have to do with Al and he is willing to wait for an answer. Fuhrer Grumman has also tasked me with passing along his well wishes for yourself and your brother and wants you to know that you will be placed on paid leave until Alphonse has recovered sufficiently," Mustang told him.

"Oh," Ed said, once more stunned by something Mustang had said, "that was nice of him. Always did like Grumman best out of the generals," Ed muttered to Ayala, who rolled her eyes fondly.

"You like him best because he plays chess with you and actually makes you work for your win," Ayala said with a small chuckle.

"True," Ed said with the first real smile that had been on his face since before he entered Mustang's room, "but that doesn't mean he isn't awesome." Ayala had to nod at that because she held no true misgivings about Grumman or his Animal so she couldn't counter with anything even if she wanted to.

"That was everything I wished to speak with you about so unless you have any questions, I'd suggest you head back to your room before Nurse Keely finds you," Mustang said, interrupting Ed and Ayala.

Ed wracked his brain for something he'd possibly thought of earlier to ask Mustang but was about to call it quits when something did come to mind. "What happened with Scar? He looked really injured when I saw him last," Ed said, mind flashing to the glimpse he'd gotten of the Ishvalen man when he, Ayala and Chester were heading to join the fight against Father above ground.

"As far as I know, he's alright," Mustang said. "General Armstrong took custody of him shortly after Grumman turned up. From what I've heard, he's being treated by the Armstrong family doctor for his injuries. I don't know whether anything has been decided about his fate," Mustang told him.

"Well, nothing should happen to him," Ed said and Mustang blinked in surprise.

"He's wanted for over a dozen counts of murder and attempted murder, including yours," Mustang reminded him but Ed flapped his automail hand at him in a dismissive manner.

"Yeah, but some of those people probably deserved it," Ed said, "plus, he was instrumental to our success on Promised Day and he apologised for trying to kill me. He knows he was wrong to do what he did but he just wanted someone to pay for what happened to his country and brother," Ed told him. Mustang's surprise only grew with every word Ed spoke.

"Wait, when did he apologise to you?" Mustang asked.

"When he turned up where we'd trapped Pride near Kanama on the Promised Day," Ed said. "He apologised to me for what he'd done to me, Al and the Animals personally and he admitted that he'd realised that his god and Animal would not be happy with him killing people in his name when Scar had no right to take their lives," Ed told him.

"Interesting," Mustang said thoughtfully. "If he's truly regretful about his actions and is willing to admit to his crimes, we might be able to make some sort of deal for him. Especially since, as you said, he played an integral role on Promised Day and without his assistance and willingness to involve other Ishvalens, we most likely wouldn't have won against Father with as few injuries as we did," Mustang said. "I'll talk with Fuhrer Grumman about it once I've been released from here," Mustang promised and Ed gave a nod, knowing he couldn't ask for anything more from the man. "Was there anything else?"

"Why didn't you let Marcoh heal your hands?" Ed blurted out before he could stop himself. He felt his cheeks darken as he flushed when Mustang chuckled slightly.

"He did heal them," Mustang said. "I just didn't let him heal them completely. I only let him use the stone to make sure I didn't lose functionality in my hands," Mustang explained at Ed's confused look.

"How come? Wouldn't it have been easier to just let him heal them properly?" Ed asked before mentally facepalming at the fact that he'd just blatantly asked such a private question.

"I didn't want to lose functionality," Mustang started explaining, "so I let him heal them up to the point where I wouldn't be at risk of permanent damage. I want the injuries to scar so I'll have a constant reminder of the fact that my flame alchemy doesn't make me invincible but, despite that, I am capable of surviving and winning against those who are stronger than me," Mustang told him unabashedly honest. For the third time that night, Ed found himself unable to do much more than nod in response, which he did. As crazy as Mustang's answer might've been to anyone else, Ed understood it completely. "Is there anything else you want to discuss before Nurse Keely starts hunting you down?" Mustang asked but Ed shook his head.

"No, I'll talk to Miss Riza tomorrow sometime and see how she's going so I can't really think of anything else I'd want to ask about," Ed said, rising out of his chair slowly enough for Ayala to shift so she wouldn't be trodden on.

"Alright," Mustang said with a nod. "Nala and I will pay Alphonse a visit tomorrow. I imagine we'll see you there as well," Mustang said and Ed huffed.

"Won't be likely to find me anywhere else until he wakes up," Ed said. There was a tense undercurrent in his voice, as though he was daring Mustang to comment on it but the raven-haired man did no such thing.

"See you tomorrow then, Edward," Mustang said. Ed startled lightly as the use of his first name, not expecting it after the heart-to-heart was over.

"See ya, Mustang. Bye, Nala," Ed said, giving the lioness a pat before he and Ayala headed for the door.

"Bye, you two," Nala said just as Mustang echoed a similar sentiment.

Pausing at the door, Ed half turned to face Mustang once more. "Thanks for checking in on me and making sure I was coping," Ed said softly, almost as though he didn't want to speak loudly enough for Mustang to hear him.

"You don't have to thank me for that," Mustang said. "I do care about you, you know," he said, a teasing lilt to his voice but both Animals and Ed could see that Mustang was truly making sure that Ed did know.

"Yeah, I'm starting to get that," Ed said, giving Mustang a final, rare, genuine smile before he left the brigadier-general's room, closing the door with a soft click behind him.


Over the next week, Ed and Ayala practically lived in Al's hospital room while his brother continued sleeping peacefully. Doctor Overland had kept his word and he and two nurses had come into Alphonse's room the day after Ed had woken from being knocked out by Truth to reverse the coma they'd been forced to induce. But, just as Overland had warned, Alphonse hadn't woken up. To Ed's disappointment and worry, he hadn't even stirred. It had taken Chester, Ayala and Overland combined to assure Ed that the fact that Al's unresponsiveness wasn't a bad thing. In the end, Overland pointed out that they preferred their patient's status to remain unchanged rather than worsen and that had helped Ed settle down the most.

Ed had convinced Doctors Overland and Grainger – who was Al's secondary doctor – to set up an extra bed in Al's room so Ed could sleep in there at night instead of the hospital chair. They'd done so on the condition that Ed, Ayala and Chester all left the hospital and its grounds for at least two hours every day. Ed had agreed readily, despite the worry he could feel from Chester and the doctors had left the room pleased. Once they were gone, Ed had informed Chester that the doctors hadn't said they all had to leave the hospital together and that they'd split it into shifts so that someone was always with Alphonse while the other two were out. Chester had been much happier with the agreement after that.

The day after his and Mustang's talk had proven to be exhausting just by the sheer amount of people who stopped by to visit him and Alphonse. In the morning, Breda and Dubuffet had stopped by with the promised breakfast but they didn't get the chance to chat as Breda was needed elsewhere immediately. Ed, Al and the Animals were next visited by the Hughes family so they could check that Ed was alright and offer their couch to him if he wanted to sleep at theirs. He'd been thankful but had turned the offer down, not wanting to let Al out of his sight for more than a few minutes just yet. Gracia and Maes had understood but pointedly told him that the offer would remain open indefinitely and all he needed to do was ask. The sincerity in their voices when they'd told him that had almost made Ed flush, especially when he remembered what Hughes had said to Hohenheim after the fight with Father.

Shortly after Gracia managed to convince Hughes and Elysia that they needed to leave Ed and Al to rest, the brothers and their Animals received their next visitors in the form of Hawkeye and Soren. The owl had immediately left Hawkeye's shoulder to land softly in Ed's lap and gently click his beak against his cheek as he butted his head against Ed's. The blonde hadn't been able to hold his flush back a second time when Hawkeye informed him that Soren had been extremely worried about Ed since he hadn't been able to contact him when he was taken and he hadn't had the chance to talk to him before he lost consciousness. The flush only darkened when Soren had confirmed what she'd said and started fussing over him.

Hawkeye ended up being the visitor who stayed the longest that day but only because she'd mentioned that she'd watched the fight between Scar and Bradley in its entirety and Ed had wanted to know everything that had happened. Hawkeye had seemed more than glad to recount the fight and Ed thought he saw a gleam of vindictive pleasure in her eyes when she spoke of the injuries Scar inflicted on their disgraced late Fuhrer. Ed had then made her stay a little longer by asking about her injuries, how she was healing and why she hadn't been released yet.

Hawkeye had been gentle when she broke the news that one of the Bradley rejects had sliced her neck open shortly after he'd been kidnapped, confirming Ed's fears that the blood he'd seen soaking her jacket and shirt was hers. She'd been quick so assure him that her injuries had been fully healed by Marcoh but she was still in hospital because the stone couldn't replace the blood she'd lost. Seeing Ed's stricken expression, she'd lightly grasped his left hand and reminded him that she was alright and that she'd be out of the hospital within a couple of days since the doctors were only keeping her until she'd recovered completely.

Once Hawkeye and Soren were sure Ed didn't have any more questions, they left to head back to their room since they were expecting visitors themselves and Ed had agreed to pay them a visit the next day if Hawkeye hadn't been discharged. Minutes after Hawkeye and Soren had left, Ed's next lot of visitors turned up and he had to bite back a groan of annoyance at the sight of Greed in his and Al's room. The homunculous, Lan Fan, Mei and the two chimeras who hadn't been badly injured on Promised Day or in the earlier fight against Pride all crammed themselves into the room and watched as Mei performed her healing array on Alphonse while they waited respectfully outside the transmutation circle.

While Mei and Xao-Mei worked on Alphonse, Greed handed Ling's body back over to the prince once the homunculous had finished interrogating Ed about what had happened to cause him to lose consciousness. Ling and Lan Fan had both been surprised when Laika left Ling's side to join Ed on his bed so he could thank the blonde personally for all his help. The Yellow-Throated Marten had ended up spending the entire visit on Ed's lap and only Ed was privy to the fact that Laika had been doing it as an admittedly petty way to punish Ling for the last few months, though Ed had a feeling Ling knew anyway. Both members of the Yao clan filled Ed in on what had happened to have Ling extend his clan's protection to the Chang's and of their plans for when they would be leaving Amestris to return home.

It had been decided that since the current emperor's health was still rapidly declining, Ling and Lan Fan would be leaving the next day so Ling could present Greed and claim the throne. Mei would be staying in Amestris until Al was healthy enough for her to leave but she wouldn't be making the crossing by herself. Both Jerso and Zampano had offered to escort her, which Ed had been surprised about until Zampano told him that as a thank you for the help they'd given on Promised Day, Grumman had offered them a choice. They could retire from the military completely or become temporary liaisons between Xing and Amestris until the new emperor had been decided and Grumman could assign someone officially. Ling and Mei, of course, had been part of the decision and both had offered to house the chimeras for the duration of their stay. Neither Zampano or Jerso had decided on who they'd stay with but with Jerso still healing and Mei helping Al, they had plenty of time to do so.

After the Xingese and chimeras had left, Major Armstrong, Lieutenant Maria Ross, Sergeant Brosh and their Animals had paid them a visit, utilising their lunch break to do so. Much to Ed, Ayala and Chester's relief, Ross and Brosh managed to stop Armstrong before he could strip in an effort to help them heal and ushered him out of the room so they could get back to work after spending nearly twenty minutes with the Elrics. Sheska and Sam had slipped in as they left and Ed had spoken with the timid secretary for a few minutes, assuring her that he was alright, as were the Animals, and that Alphonse would make a full recovery. She, in turn, told him about what it had been like when Father had activated his array and assured him that she, her mother and their Animals were all alright despite the terror they felt when they suddenly found themselves unable to breathe one moment then lying on the floor the next. Sheska had been the only one to tell him about the experience and Ed found himself feeling relieved that they hadn't suffered more because of that array.

After Sheska and Sam's visit, the four male members of Mustang's team filed in one after the other. Since Mustang was in hospital, the four men had been temporarily reassigned to another officer to help with the reconstruction efforts. Falman and Rachel told Ed about the fight with Wrath on the rooftop and Ed felt a small amount of happiness at the fact that Fu, Buccaneer and Eric had died surrounded by people they cared about. The lieutenant also told him and the two Animals that General Armstrong had ordered half her men back to Fort Briggs, led under Miles' command, while the other half stayed with her to help the city start recovering. The other three members of Mustang's team regaled Ed with stories they hadn't told him of their time in the other major cities as well as what had happened with them on Promised Day and how they were helping with the rebuilding efforts.

Only once Ed had promised that he would still be there the next day if they wanted to check on him did the four men and their Animals leave. Even after promising, Ed had found himself having to personally assure each Animal that he wasn't going anywhere and give them a scratch or pat before they'd leave with their humans. By the time the team had left, it was near lunchtime and Ed had decided they should keep their promise to Overland and Grainger about spending some time out of the hospital so he and Ayala went to get lunch from somewhere that cooked better food. So once Ed had pulled his black coat on over his singlet, leaving his signature coat behind, they headed out.

The two had been shocked at how much damage they could see from the fighting that took place in the streets. It didn't take long for people to recognise Ed and Ayala and they found themselves swamped by a small crowd. The people were demanding to know whether what Gracia and Grumman had was true or not and Ed told them it was. Unfortunately, instead of satisfying the crowd and making them leave him alone like he'd hoped, Ed found himself being interrogated by the dozen or so people around him. Ayala had allowed exactly ten seconds of this behaviour before she let out a snarl that sent all of them stumbling back a few steps. Ed had been forced to keep his voice level when he reminded them that Grumman had promised another press conference before informing them it would be in their best interests not to harass him for answers when they could just wait for them. His irritation at being mobbed must've shown through despite his best efforts because the crowd had dispersed quickly and the two were able to continue on their way to get food.

After lunch, Ed had been surprised to sense Koda and Suna on their way to see him and Alphonse. Izumi had been quick to greet him by smacking him over the head as she lectured him for even thinking about using that array again before she'd swept him up into a tight, safe hug and told him how proud she was of him and Alphonse and how sorry she was that they'd lost Hohenheim and Calix. Ed refused to feel any shame about how tightly he'd hugged her back as the grief over losing their father washed over him before he could bury it down. Sig, Suna and Koda had joined the hug and they stayed that way for a couple of minutes before Izumi pushed Ed away and made sure he wasn't close to dying with her own eyes. The eyeroll Ed hadn't been able to stop had resulted in a new bruise on his left arm from Izumi hitting him for being rude.

Once Sig had managed to convince Izumi that she needed to get some more rest since she was in the same boat as Ed and was still recovering physically from the fight, the four Curtis' had left the Elrics hospital room with a warning that they would swing by later the next day. Ed had been given a reprieve from visitors for the next couple of hours and utilised the time by contacting most of the Animals he was bonded to but wouldn't see for a while to see how things were with them. Michella had been suspicious when Ed contacted her but had settled down when he promised he was just checking in on her and her human and not reporting any new damage to the automail. Michella had been surprisingly talkative and filled Ed in on the specifics of his new arm – Ed wasn't sure it truly was any different to his old one however he wasn't stupid enough to tell the monkey that – as well as what she and Winry had been doing. Ed was once again saddened to hear just how many new clients Winry had received thanks to the fighting and Father. The blonde had been near ropeable when he found out that some of the injuries had been caused solely because of Father's array. After all, you couldn't control a tractor, car or other dangerous equipment if you were dead and this had resulted in several accidents and permanent deaths.

Once done talking with Michella, Ed had contacted Den next. Den had been ecstatic to hear from him but had sobered up when he told Ed that he and Pinako had finalised the plans for Hohenheim and Calix's funeral the next day. Ed felt like any positive emotion he'd been feeling had been sucked out as he was hit with a wave of guilt, regret, anger and grief over the fact that he wouldn't be attending the funeral. Though nowhere near the point where he could answer honestly about how he felt about his father now, Ed still felt guilty that he wouldn't be at the funeral after Hohenheim and Calix's sacrifice. The pair had died so that Ed wouldn't have to sacrifice anything more for Alphonse and so that his little brother could live life in his flesh and blood body, after all. Ayala, Chester and Den had all been quick to repeat what Mustang had said the previous night and tell Ed no one was expecting him to choose being there for Hohenheim over being there for Alphonse but all three knew they hadn't truly convinced the alchemist. Den had wrapped up their talk by telling Ed that he was glad they were alright and that he and Pinako were sorry that they couldn't stay in Central long enough to see him now that he was awake but that they would come back up as soon as they could.

Ed had briefly considered speaking with Anahlia but quickly decided against it since he had a feeling Olivier Armstrong and Anahlia wouldn't be appreciative of him just checking in on them. Plus, he figured that if Anahlia was interested in just chatting with him now that he was awake, she would've reached out already. Since he now had no more Animals to check in on, Ed decided it was best for him and Chester to spend some time outside of the hospital. Chester had been reluctant, even with Ayala promising that if Al so much as twitched a finger that she would contact them, but Ed prevailed and they headed for the exit, Ed making sure he waved to Overland when he spotted the doctor on their way out. He ignored the eyeroll he received in response though Chester's chuckles told him the leopard had noticed.

When they returned after an hour, Ed was understandably surprised to find Murphy, Coleman, Harper, Buckley and their Animals standing rather nervously outside Al's hospital room. After all, he'd only met them all three, maybe four times while they were under Mustang's command before he was sent north again so he hadn't expected them to pay him a visit. It turned out that they'd decided to check in on him while visiting a few friends of theirs who'd ended up in the fight and hearing he was still in the hospital. Ed had been a little touched that they'd bothered but he hadn't admitted it out loud. They stayed long enough to tell Ed that they were being reassigned again but would all still be in Central if he ever wanted to catch up with them. Ed had been as surprised as Chester and Ayala when he heard himself agree to do so once everything had settled down.

His final visitor for the day had been Mustang himself. His commanding officer had barely gotten the door open when Nala barrelled into the room and onto Ed's bed to join him and Ayala so she could give him a hug. Mustang rolled his eyes at her behaviour as he shut the door and took the chair Ed flapped a hand at. It seemed to be by mutual unspoken decision that their talk that night be nowhere near as emotional as the previous night's one. Ed filled Mustang in on everything that had happened to him that day and Mustang told him as much about his visitors as he could since a few of the conversations had been above Ed's clearance levels. Ed found himself enjoying being able to talk to Mustang so freely now that they were ignoring the fact that Ed was his subordinate for the time being at least.

Mustang had only just finished telling Ed about his plans to help the Ishvalens rebuild their country and that he'd spoken to General Armstrong and requested she ask both Scar and Major Miles whether they would be interested in helping him with everything when a nurse entered Al's room to check on him and informed Mustang and Nala that they would have to leave. Mustang had done so without argument, though there was a flicker of annoyance at the interruption but both Ed and Mustang had been glad the nurse couldn't hear what Nala had to say about her orders. Ed had soothed the lioness by promising to see her tomorrow and giving her a hug before she followed Mustang out.


The rest of the week had followed much the same routine, though the number of visitors the two boys and their Animals received varied from day to day. Both Mustang and Hawkeye were discharged two days after Ed had woken up and Mustang was given his old team back to command immediately. Izumi, Sig, Koda and Suna had stuck around for another three days so Izumi could help with the more demanding alchemy needed for rebuilding but they ended up heading back to Dublith to take their store back from Mason and give him and his chimp a well-earned break. They left only after making Ed swear a dozen times to tell Koda and Suna the moment Al woke up so they could call Ed and get more information from him.

Mei had been the only constant visitor, arriving at almost the same time everyday to perform her healing array on Alphonse. She was sometimes accompanied by either Zampano, Darius or both until Jerso and Heinkel were healed enough to join them. Ed still didn't know what the gorilla or lion chimeras were going to do with themselves but he didn't think they knew either. Ling, Lan Fan and their Animals had left for Xing the same day Mustang and Hawkeye were discharged but Ed spoke to Laika every now and then to check in on them until the distance was too great for him to manage it with the limits of their bond. He could still feel Laika and would know if anything major happened but he wasn't able to speak with him any longer. Grumman and his Animal – a weasel named Jessie – had managed to stop by for a few minutes the day before the Curtis' left and talk with Ed about his future in the military. The visit ended up being Grumman simply repeating everything Mustang had said the night Ed had woken up but Ed had still enjoyed the talk since it ended with Grumman promising to bring his chess set next time.


Nine days after Promised Day and just over a week since Ed had woken up from Truth knocking him out, Ed and Ayala were walking back to Al's room after grabbing some lunch for themselves and Chester when the leopard's frantic voice was in their heads telling them to hurry. Not bothering to ask why, Ed and Ayala took off at a sprint and got to Al's room in record time and without knocking anyone over in their rush. Ed got the door open and saw Chester standing on the floor with his front legs braced on the left-hand side of the bed Al lay in while watching his human intently. Ed dumped the food he'd brought back for the leopard on his bed before he and Ayala hovered on Al's right.

"What happened?" Ed asked after a few moments of watching Al sleeping. His brother was slowly gaining weight back, looking sickly skinny rather than dangerously malnourished like he had but Ed saw no changes to how his brother looked now compared to an hour ago when he and Ayala had left.

"He's gonna wake up soon," Chester said, voice tense with excitement and apprehension. "Any minute now," Chester told him, eyes never wavering from Al's face.

Sharing a look with Ayala, Ed sat on the edge of the hospital chair, ready to spring up if something happened while Ayala sat next to him though her eyes were on Alphonse as well. All three of them waited with bated breath as Al's chest continued to rise and fall rhythmically for nearly five minutes when Ed spotted it. Al's right hand twitched where it lay, the first sign of movement from his brother in over a week. A slight grimace crossed Al's face as Ed watched his brother fight to stay asleep a little longer and it took everything in him to not shake Al awake in that moment. Al's breathing changed from the even pace of someone in a deep sleep to someone waking up and Chester inched closer to his human, nuzzling his cheek. Ed and Ayala watched as Al subconsciously leaned into the touch for a moment before Ed couldn't stop himself any longer and grasped Al's frail hand with his flesh one.

That touch seemed to be what brought Al out of his slumber completely and Ed watched with tears in his eyes as Al's golden-brown eyes blinked blearily open. Al made a face at the brightness of the room and clamped his eyes shut before opening them more cautiously than before. Ed watched as Al took in his surroundings with confusion that cleared slowly as he started piecing things together. Chester was nearly vibrating with emotion as he watched and felt his human figure out what was going on for a few seconds before he forced his head under Al's left hand and looked up at him.

"Chester? Brother?" Al's raspy voice, near destroyed from disuse, was what finally sent Ed's tears spilling over as Ed listened to his brother speak. "Wha's goin' 'n?" Al asked, slurring his words. Ayala pushed her head under Ed and Al's clasped hands and Al looked at her for a moment. Ed wanted to laugh when he saw the moment Al realised that what Ed was holding onto was his flesh hand and he likely would've done so if he wasn't trying to stop himself from openly sobbing. "I'm back? Is this real?" Al asked, voice no longer slurred though still croaky and looking at his too-skinny arm in wonder.

"You're whole and this isn't a dream. I promise," Ed said, his shaky voice nearly a whisper. Tears rolled down Al's cheek as he let Ed's words sink in.

"Ed, I'm crying," Al said as more tears made their way down his cheeks. "Ed, I can cry," Al stressed, a sob catching in his throat as he closed his eyes from the sheer amount of emotion and sensory load he was feeling. Ed got out of his chair and leaned over Al, closing his own eyes and pressing their foreheads together as Al's weak sobs wracked his fragile frame. "Ed, I can feel you and Ches and Ayala. I can feel the breeze coming in through the window. I can smell the hospital disinfectant. I can smell your shampoo, Brother," Al said. "I can feel again, Brother," Al whispered.

"You're alright," Ed soothed as he felt Al's sobbing increase. His own tears were still falling thick and fast while the two Animals tried their best to comfort their humans. Chester felt Al weakly grasp his fur and he almost whimpered at the touch. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed having Al's human hand ruffle his fur until this moment.

"I'm tired, Brother," Al said after a couple of minutes but instead of it being a complaint, Al sounded amazed that he was.

"You've got six years of sleep to catch up on, Al, and your body needs to recover from the time in Truth's dimension. I'm not surprised you're tired," Ed said, pulling away from Al and sitting back on the edge of the seat, tightening his grip on Al's hand as his little brother blinked his eyes open once more.

"I don't want to sleep, Ed," Al said, another sob forcing its way out of his throat. "What if this is all a dream? What if I wake up and I'm back in the armour?" Al asked, voice breaking from fear and Ed felt his heart break.

"I promise you, Alphonse, that this is not a dream," Ed said, catching Al's gaze and making him keep eye contact. "I swear, you will wake up to Chester drooling on your bed and me and Ayala snoring in the bed next to you and you will still be in your flesh body," Ed promised, squeezing Al's hand for good measure. Chester and Ayala's offended looks had Al chuckle weakly as he tried to raise an arm to wipe his face but couldn't from lack of energy. Ed grabbed some tissues and did it for him, getting a thankful smile from his brother just as his eyes started drooping sleepily.

"Get some rest, Al," Chester said, voice echoing lightly in Ed's mind and Al nodded.

"I will," Al said with a small yawn. "Thank you for getting my body back," Al said softly, barely loud enough for Ed to hear before he fell back asleep. Ed had a niggling feeling that those words weren't meant for him but that was something he could ask Al about when his brother could stay awake for more than a couple of minutes.

"I'm so happy to have you back, little brother," Ed whispered as he watched Al's breathing even out.

Chester carefully manoeuvred Al's hand back onto the mattress before he dropped to his feet and slunk around the bed to join Ed and Ayala just as Ed placed Al's right hand back down as well. Once Chester was close enough, Ed grabbed both Animals into a tight hug that they tried their best to reciprocate as he let the rest of his tears be soaked up by their fur as he let go of the hold he had on his emotions.

Finally, for the first time in nearly six years, Ed felt like the four of them could start moving forward and living their lives without the mistakes of their past haunting their every step, just like Calix had asked them to do in his last moments. For the first time in six years, Ed could let himself finally breathe as he felt the weight of the last of his mistakes melt away while he held Ayala and Chester close and watched his little brother's chest rise and fall with every breath he took.

A/N - To be honest, I don't know what to write for this author's note. This isn't the last chapter. There will be one more that's set six years after this chapter as an epilogue to show you what I've had everyone doing after the Promised Day. But this is the final chapter for this arc and it's the only chapter where I knew what I wanted to happen ever since I decided to start writing this AU.

WS - I truly hope you loved this chapter and that it answers most of your questions from the last one. I'd love to know what you thought to this chapter. There will be no RoyEd in this story (seriously I cannot write romance to save my life. At best you can consider this pre-RoyEd if you really wanna but it will never be anything more than parental!RoyEd in my mind) so I'm sorry about that but I really would love to know what you think to this chapter.

I would absolutely love to know what everyone thinks to this chapter. Out of all the chapters I've written for this story, this is the chapter I really would love the most feedback on. Of course, I'd love to know what everyone thinks to the epilogue I post next week when it's up but this chapter, for me, is the one that I worked the hardest on to try and bring what I'd imagined for the ending of this story to life so I'd really appreciate some comments about it :) I'll see you all for the last time with this story next week!