Hello again. Thanks to all you loyal readers who left those wonderful reviews. They make me feel special. :3 Anyway, the reviews are my motivation to keep writing this story, so keep reading, and keep reviewing:)

Here...is the chapter that marks the beginning of their romance. I really hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Nine: Bed Ridden

The elder Elric's eyes opened slowly, then shut themselves tight again when the horribly bright light hit them. He didn't feel sore like he did before he collapsed...he was totally numb.

Wait...am I dead? Oh shit...I am, aren't I?

Suddenly, the feeling started to return to his body. He didn't feel as crappy as before, but he still ached.

I guess I'm alive...but wbere am I?

The sudden sound of a page turning caused him to crack open his eyes. The light didn't seem so bright any more, so he was gradually able to open them all the way. He slowly brought his hand up to shield his eyes. Then he turned his head over in the direction the sound had come from.

There sat Colonel Roy Mustang, in a chair beside his bed, reading quietly. He had a bandage on his left cheek and his upper forehead, and had a slight bruise on his right cheek.

"R-ROY!" Ed nearly jumped. The Colonel looked up quickly in surprise.

"So...the sleeping beauty finally awakes." He smirked.

"Where am I?"

"Where does it look like you are? You're in a hospital, shrimp." Ed didn't even bother to reply to the insult. He was too shocked that he had made it out alive. Wait...

"Where's Keith!" Ed sat up and looked around warily.

"Dead." Roy said, not looking up from his book.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"What happened...? And..." He paused. "...why did you...hug me? I felt it before I blacked out."

"Wh-what? Th-th-that wasn't a hug, you m-moron!" Roy waved his hands in protest. "I...was trying to pick you up so that I could carry you to safety. But then that Keith guy said, 'What do you think you're doing?' And I said, 'I'm getting help for my friend.' And then he walked up to me and punched me right here..." He pointed to the bruise. "I swung at his head, but he ducked and hit me in the gut. He then broke his bottle over my head, and that's how I got this," He indicated the large bandage on his forehead. "He dug a piece of the broken glass right here..." He pointed at the bandage on his cheek. "...and that's when I snapped my fingers and set his entire body on fire. He died slowly. When the police showed up, I told them it was in my self-defense...which it was, so they let it go and drove you and me to the hospital. This was four days ago."

Ed just stared in amazement. "You did all that...went through all that...just to save me? You could've just run away or something." Ed then looked down.

"Now why would I do that? I need you to help me figure out this-" he was stopped short by the sound of soft sobbing. Ed had his face buried in his knees, crying.

"What the- what's wrong, Ed?" Roy scooted his chair closer and placed a hand on the blonde's head.

"I...I really th-thought...I was g-going t-to...die," Ed choked out. "I was so...so scared, Roy..." The blonde then felt those same arms that had wrapped around him four days ago take him into another warm embrace. Ed's head was resting against Roy's warm chest, and his sobs quieted down a bit.

"It's over now, Ed." Roy was calling him "Ed" now. Not "shrimp". Not "Elric". Not "Fullmetal", but his real name, as if they were...friends, now. Ed now returned the hug tightly.

"R-Roy...what would've happened...if I died? What would you have done?" Roy was silent. He was silent because he wasn't so sure of the answer himself.

"Well, you're not dead. Be thankful." He let go of Ed and stood up. "I'm...going to get something to eat. You want anything?" Ed nodded. He hadn't eaten in so long, after all.

"Get me whatever they have. I don't care. And bring lots of it." Roy nodded and left.

The only reason Roy left to go get food was to just get out of that room. He felt so strange now...so light-headed. Why? And why did he hug Ed? Because the brat was crying, and he wanted him to shut up.

No...it wasn't that. It was something else. Something that Roy couldn't define made him do it. And now he was flushed and light-headed. His heart was also pounding at a faster rate.

Why, dammit! Roy rubbed at his eye with the palm of his hand. This was way too confusing.

Late that night, while Ed was fast asleep, Roy sat in that same chair, staring at the ceiling in the darkness. The nurse had offered him a room to stay in while he waited for Ed to recover, but he declined, wanting to stay in Ed's room to make sure he was all right. He didn't know why, he just...wanted to.

The blonde looked so peaceful as he slept, as Roy had discovered in all the glances he had stolen at Ed. His golden bangs fell gently over his face, and his breathing was slow and quiet. He looked so innocent...so young. Yet grown and mature at the same time. Roy couldn't describe it, but his admiration for the young prodigy was slowly and steadily growing. Ed stirred a bit, his face showing discomfort. Roy looked and saw the reason- Ed had kicked off his covers in his sleep. The Colonel leaned forward and tucked him back in slowly, trying his best not to wake him.

A soft smile spread across the Colonel's face as he lifted his hand to gently push back the hair in Ed's eyes. He tucked the strands of hair behind his ear, and soon found himself stroking the hair back there over and over again. When he realized what he was doing, he made a disgusted face and pulled his hand away.

What am I thinkning?

He sighed and sat back in his chair, his heart pounding again.

The next morning, Ed sat up in bed, stretching his real arm and yawning. "Man, I haven't gotten a good sleep like that in a long time." He grinned, but his grin faded when he looked over at Roy. "C...Colonel?"

Roy glared back at Ed with dark circles under his eyes and his hair all messed up. He was a mess. "What?" he grunted.

"Did you get any sleep at all last night?" Ed said in a concerned tone.

"No."

"You should've taken the nurse's offer, Roy. What gave you the idea that you'd get any sleep at all in a wooden chair?" Roy didn't say anything; he just glared back at the chipper blonde.

"Just leave me alone."

"Whatever."

The entire day was totally uneventful. Ed spent the whole time in bed, complaining that he couldn't walk, and Roy got to know the entire building pretty well, wandering the hallways aimlessly and flirting shamelessly with the young nurses he came across. Roy would drop by and check on Ed occasionally, but would get bored and continue getting to know the entire hospital.

Although it passed slowly, the day still passed, and night was upon them once again. Roy still refused to get his own room, for reasons unknown to even him. However uncomfortable the chair was, Roy fell asleep almost instantly. Sleep deprivation can do that to you.

It took Ed a little while to fall asleep. All the rest he'd been getting lately had made it difficult now. He turned over to face Roy, who had nodded off and was snoring softly.

Great, like I'm gonna get any sleep with the sound of him breathing like that. But his expression softened as he recalled what Roy told him. The Colonel actually fought for him, when he didn't even have to. Like it was in his interest to make sure Ed was alive. The blonde sighed deeply and closed his eyes. He pictured the fight scene in his mind, and the thoughts comforted him enough to help him fall asleep.

Morning came, and the hospital was in total panic. Roy had already awakened early, but felt refreshed after finally getting a decent night's sleep. Ed finally woke to the sound of someone screaming, "Who would be evil enough commit a murder in a hospital!"

He opened his eyes and sat up with a start. He looked over at Roy, who stared directly back into his eyes.

"Someone was killed overnight. I got the details from a doctor. Apparently another doctor was murdered. I think it's our man."

"What makes you think that?"

"The doctor said that the victim had practiced alchemy in his younger days." Ed's eyes widened, then he buried his face in his hands. "Crap."

"What?"

"I think you just proved my theory right. The murderer is following us."

Roy's eyes widened. "You mean..."

"Yeah. Have you noticed that all his recent strikes were made where we were stayingn at the time? Or at least where one of us was staying? I think we're going to be targets...real soon. He's just toying with us for now." Ed's voice sounded as if he was about to start crying.

"You have a point there...I think you're right." He stood up and walked past Ed. Before he reached the door, he turned so that he could see the Elric. "But you shouldn't worry, Ed. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise. So just trust me, okay?" He opened the door and left the room abruptly, leaving Ed bewildered.

Roy spent the entire day out of the hospital, looking around town and trying to clear his head. He had so much on his mind, being cooped up in the hospital building would drive him practically insane.

He didn't deny the fact that he wanted to protect Ed now. Or the fact that the young alchemist had grown on him. But how on Earth was he going to defend the elder Elric from that maniac, genius murderer? He spent the entire day pondering this...and realized a few other things, as well.

Meanwhile, Ed had been working on trying to walk again. Most of his strength had returned, and it only took him about half a day to get used to being on his feet again. He was still a bit sore, but mostly recovered. The doctors said that they only needed him to stay for one more night, just to make sure everything was in order.

Roy returned in the late evening, carrying food he had picked up from the cafeteria for both Ed and himself. They ate together in total silence.

"I'm being let out tomorrow."

"...that's good."

"What's with you? You've taken like...three little bites out of your sandwich, and we've been eating for fifteen minutes. And you're so quiet." Roy said nothing in response. He just averted his eyes from Ed's.

"Answer me, Colonel." Roy stood up.

"I have to...go use the restroom." He left quickly.

That night, well after midnight, the scenario of the first night played itself out again. Ed was fast asleep, and Roy was wide awake and watching over Ed. He had kind of zoned out into a trance-like state, eyes still on Ed, but falling asleep. He caught himself as he began to nod off, and jerked awake.

Roy, after rubbing his eyes and stretching, noticed that Ed was stirring a bit. A nightmare, perhaps?

Before he knew it, the Colonel was lying beside Ed. For some reason, all of his judgement was thrown to the wind.

Ed opened his eyes slowly when he felt warm lips pressed against his.

Dun dun DUN! Man, I am evil. Shall I torture you and put this off again...:rubs hands together and laughs maniacally: