Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist does NOT belong to me in any shape or form. Unless you count keychains. And wall-hangings. And a pocket watch. I dreamt that I found the rights to FMA in a fortune cookie once though...

This is my FMA Drabble Collection (which I actually started writing before the other one I've posted here). Pairings will include anything (from AlWin to RoyEd) so people who don't like shounen ai (slash - i.e. a guy being romantically paired with another guy) have been forewarned.

Cookie For Your Thoughts

No real spoilers, maybe a bit from some of the Nina episodes...

Nina is so cute : D

He sits hunched over a book, on the stone floor of the library, alone. Al has gone out to play with Alexander and Nina. He has always been the restless one, unable to sit still for an indefinable period of time even now that his body can no longer feel the stiffness and pain that this incessant studying results in. Al is, after all, the younger brother.

He considers taking a break when his eyes refuse to focus on the page he's been reading for the past hour. But softly treading feet approach the door and he lounges back against the bookcase, hiding an indulgent smile. He pretends to be studying fiercely as the footsteps grow closer, sneaking glances out of the corner of his eye as she comes in view.

She's being as quiet as possible, walking on tiptoe so as not to disturb him. He smothers the urge jump up and shout, "BOO!" as loud as he can.

In her hands she carries a tray of cookies and…Ed wrinkles his nose on reflex as he notices the two glasses of milk sitting innocently on the platter.

The little girl sets down her offering and sits across from him, randomly selecting one of the books scattered haphazardly across the floor and opening it in her lap. Ed debates telling her the thick volume she has chosen is upside down. But then she reaches for a cookie – the delicious, home-made, old-fashioned chocolate chip kind, he realises, putting that down as the reason behind the flour and chocolate currently taking up residence in her hair and the folds of her clothing. A feeling of nostalgia that somehow feels out-of-place here invades his senses and he remembers similar plates of freshly baked cookies – although somewhat less lopsided – tender smiles and gentle embraces from a time he thought he had put behind him. He shakes his head to dislodge the fading memories, and it is Nina and a tower of musty books sitting beside him, not a smiling woman and a little boy.

She's staring at him with those open, innocent eyes and smiling as she holds out a cookie and one of the glasses. He reaches out and snatches the cookie but spares the milk only a disdainful glance. Nina frowns and sets the milk down, looking childishly mournful.

Edward tries to ignore the way that her soft, youthfully proportioned features remind him of the little golden-brown haired boy he is fighting to restore and the way the guilt constricts his throat.

He turns his nose up at the milk, making a face and Nina giggles. "…Don't see how you can stand such a nauseating substance," he comments airily, dismissively, watching as her sadness is replaced by mirth.

Her face turns pensive as she gazes contemplatively at both glass and cookie and it makes Ed grin. But when she speaks her voice is soft and reverent, and his face grows somber.

"We always had cookies with milk…me and mom…"

Her face is downcast and the air in the library is suddenly heavy, tense.

Edward looks and the cookie and the glass of milk Nina set down beside him. And he remembers steaming hot stew that tasted like milk but was so delicious that he could overlook that just to see a smile on his mother's face.

He braces himself, steeling himself against what he's about to do. Then, without further ado, he grabs the glass, takes a swig and crams the cookie in his mouth after it.

Nina's delighted laughter almost drowns out the sound of Ed's choking and gagging.

--Owari--

--Fin--