"Okay boys, time for bed!" Trisha Elric smiled. Her two sons were reading a book, but they were hardly able to keep their eyes open. Al got up as soon as he heard his mother; he had been ready to fall asleep for half an hour already. "Mommy, can we stay up five more minutes?" Edward asked, yawning. "No," Trisha responded. "You can finish reading tomorrow."
Ed and Al went to brush their teeth and changed into their pajamas. "Good night, you two," their mother said once they were ready for bed. "Good night, Mommy," the boys replied. Trisha gave her sons both a kiss goodnight, and Al gave his brother a kiss, too. Ed immediately wiped his face off, declaring himself too old for goodnight kisses. The brothers crawled into their beds and fell asleep.
"Brother, wake up," Al whispered. It was close to midnight, and Alphonse had woken up from a bad dream. Edward opened his eyes. "Al, it's still nighttime. Did you have a nightmare?" "Yes, and I'm scared," Al replied. Ed just scooted over to make room for his little brother and went back to sleep. Al slid under the covers and slept peacefully untill morning.
"Al, hey Alphonse!" Ed was trying to get his brother's attention. "Oh, I'm sorry brother, I was just thinking." "About what?" Ed inquired. "Nothing important," Al responded. This was the first night since Al had gotten his body back that the brothers had a chance to sleep. They were both completely exhausted.
"I'm beat," Ed declared, flopping onto the one bed in the room. "Wake me up in a week. 'Night Al" Alphonse got into bed next to his brother, enjoying the feel of linen sheets against his skin. "Goodnight," Al said, and without really thinking he leaned over and kissed Edward.
Al immediately braced himself for Ed's rude and sarcastic reaction, but it never came. Ed just smiled and looked at his little brother for a moment. "Just like when we were kids," he remarked. The boys scooted a little closer together and fell asleep, staying that way late into the morning.