Disclaimer: Rowan tosses a coin into a wishing well and says, "I wish I had created FullMetal Alchemist! I wish Edward were mine!" There you have it: hasn't happened yet, but she's waiting patiently for the well to come through for her.

AC (Author's Claim): The OC in this chapter belongs to me, got it? Julie Hakuro is my character! Yay, some things here are totally and completely mine!

Note: Yes, you read right. Julie is back again! Oh, what in heavens is Rowan thinking? Well, for me, it was nearly essential to bring her back, and I hope you see why once you read this chapter. Oh, but I'm very proud of myself. This only took a week to write because I really wanted to finish that scene from Chapter Six! Yay, this was a quick update! Though I'm not so sure about this chapter, I still love it anyway. Now, on to Chapter Seven!

But before I start, let me just thank everyone for the reviews this story has received! Yeah! Darling has hit 50 reviews (which, for me, is always a landmark.) As for the "longest-review" thing from last chapter? Well, Tiama wrote the longest review (but all the reviews were wonderful.) So email me please with what you want your one-shot to be! I will write that as soon as Darling is completed. Thank you! Now...onwards!

Darling

Chapter Seven- Ato ni wa modorenai kara

Edward's eyes fluttered open to eyelashes and Al's mouth pressed against his. For a moment Ed almost let himself fall back asleep, but it was too late; Alphonse felt the difference between Ed asleep and Ed awake and had already pulled away, his grey eyes dark and frightened. Edward gasped, and brought his metal hand up to cool his hot lips. "Alphonse."

Al turned his face away, his cheeks blushing. "I...I'm sorry, Ed," he whispered, not sure what he was apologizing for. He'd kissed his brother. But wasn't that what Edward had been wanting all this time?

Looking up, Al saw Edward wipe his mouth off on the back of his gloved hand. "Don't do that," he said quietly, his golden eyes staring up at Al with fire.

"What? Why not?"

Ed stood up from his chair, his eyes glaring up into Al's. "Don't think I can't read you, Alphonse. You kissed me, but not because you suddenly realized you're in love with me. That was some kind of experiment, a test to see how much you could take." Al blinked, afraid because Ed had seen right through him.

"But-" Al protested, his voice weak.

"No!" Edward yelled out in a sudden rage. He flung his arm out and pushed his book to the floor. "You can't tease me like that, Alphonse! It's bad enough that I want you to kiss me again, but if I let you, if you kiss me, but you cannot reciprocate my feelings, then you're only letting me hurt myself."

Alphonse turned away from Edward, ashamed. "I...realize that, Brother," he whispered, "and I apologize for hurting you. I was just...curious."

Edward glanced up, a wry grin on his face. "Yeah, well, you know what they say? 'Curiosity killed the cat.'"

"Why is it cats, though?" Al speculated, unconsciously changing the tense dynamics of the room. He crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side in thought. "I mean, I'm sure curiosity could kill dogs, too. And mice. Or rats. Or people. Yet the saying is about cats. Why is that, Brother?"

Edward straightened and playfully pushed Al back. "It's so fools like you can sympathize," he said.

Al sniffed. "Cat-people are not fools. Cats happen to be very smart animals."

Ed frowned. "I like dogs better. They obey you; cats are uncontrollable. You can't make them listen to anything," he said.

"Yes," Al said, laughing at the serious expression on his brother's face. "They remind me of a certain person I know." Edward looked up at Al from the corner of his eye, asking the question with his sharp gaze. "Maybe that's why I like cats so much."

A faint touch of pink colored Ed's cheeks as he turned his face away again. Edward, seeing his book lying on the floor, bent down and picked it up and placed it back on the table. When he looked back to Al, the moment was gone, and an uncomfortable silence was forging a chasm between them. Ed coughed into his hand, bent his head down and let his bangs cover his eyes. "Well, um, promise to never do that again?" he asked softly.

Al hesitated, then nodded. "I promise, Brother." He didn't add "unless I form feelings for you," because he had promised, and that meant everything. No getting Ed's hopes up for nothing, which really meant that he was hoping for something, a faint hope like the flicker of a flame before it succumbs to the darkness. Oh, and Alphonse wasn't that cruel to add fuel to that fire, but rather let it die quietly, and maybe, maybe Edward could move on.

Edward strode over to the door suddenly, walking quickly past Al. "Say, I smell pasta. That wouldn't happen to be dinner, would it?"

Al turned to Edward standing in the doorway, his nose directed toward the kitchen. Once again, that look of innocence graced the profile of his face, his eyes closed, his face eager; it was the same expression that Alphonse had come to treasure in his brother, and at that moment he found himself almost wishing to love Edward and fulfill his seemingly hopeless desire. But instead of stepping forward and...what? Kissing Ed again? Instead of that, he simply nodded. "Yes, it's time for dinner. I set the table already, so all you have to do is eat."

Edward turned, a joke in his eyes. "Oh, so was that why you..." he paused, his mouth open in mid-sentence, but without finishing his phrase, Edward proceeded into the kitchen, throwing behind him a , "Good, because I'm starving!" as he went.

Alphonse paused a moment, picking up the book Ed had been reading and finding the page Edward had left off at. It was a collection of poetry, which was surprising because Edward seemed too...concrete for such things. But Al supposed he deserved a break from all his alchemical texts to something more whimsical, once in a while. The particular poem Ed had left off at was about waking, but waking to your lover, and not wanting to leave.

What was the rest of Edward's question? Al wondered as he followed his brother out of the room. "Was that why you came to wake me?" probably...but maybe he really wanted to say, "was that why you woke me like that?"

And if it had, what would Al's answer be?

The call came on a weekend, while Edward was out shopping. Al was in the library dusting the books when he heard the ring. He took his time to answer it though, finishing the shelf before he walked into the hall and lifted the phone from its cradle. "Hello?" he said, expecting to hear Roy's euphoric voice exclaiming over Riza and the much-anticipated child. So when he heard the familiar voice of Julie Hakuro, Alphonse nearly dropped the phone.

"Hello, this is Julie Hakuro. May I please speak to Alphonse?" she said in her overly polite voice. But she didn't know that Ed was now living with Al, so that was probably out of habit.

"…Speaking," Al replied softly into the phone. His voice was dangerously cold. "What do you want, Julie?"

"Alphonse," she breathed. "It has been a long time."

"Not nearly long enough," he replied. "I thought I made it clear that I want nothing to do with you. What is your purpose for calling me?"

Julie sighed, though it seemed a sad one rather than exasperated, as though she were sad that she had hurt him. As though, somehow, she regretted it. "I'm still going to write that book, Alphonse. You may have burned my notes, but I haven't forgotten. Like I could ever forget that how your brother loves you is wrong."

Al frowned. "...So. You're writing the book. I expected as much, but why tell me? Why not just write the damn thing already? The suspense is killing me more than the criticism we'll get after the book is published. For you know they'll just assume that Ed and I are involved in a forbidden affair."

"..." There was a dumb pause and Al wondered for a moment if she had hung up on him. But then Julie's voice returned, quiet, in his ear. "I know that, Alphonse. Why else would I call? I'm warning you. Forsake your brother now, so no one will think such horrible things about you. Don't let Edward ruin your reputation, just because he has feelings for you!" Suddenly, Julie was pleading with him; this was not the same woman Al had known, had loved. This was one desperate, driven by her irrational emotions rather than rational thought. But why was she so upset? Because Alphonse stood up for his brother? Because he had chosen Ed over her? Because even she did not understand own her motivations?

"You don't have to write that book, Julie," said Al calmly, though even he was shaken by the emotion in her voice. "You could do the right thing and leave us alone."

"But Alphonse-"

"No, Julie, hear me out. Why are you so determined to ruin our lives? Do you hate Edward that much?" Alphonse shifted the phone to his other hand and leaned against the wall. "You know, Julie, when you first met my brother, it seemed as if you admired him. Yet once you discovered his secret, you decided that it was your duty to ruin his reputation. Why?"

"Because I have nothing else, Alphonse!" was her immediate reply. Al stood up, his back leaving the wall in surprise. "There is nothing left for me to do but write, because you took everything else from me!"

"...I?" Al gasped. "What do you mean, Julie?"

"I mean...oh, curse you," she muttered, surprising Al all the more. "I mean, there is nothing that I care for now. I lost you, and...and I realized, a few months ago, that I made a huge mistake. But you would not take me back; you made your choice and you chose...your brother, Edward." Her voice curled as she said Ed's name, the disgust visible to Alphonse. "And that's why I want to ruin his life, Alphonse. Because he took you away from me! Because you love him...more than you will ever love me!" Julie's voice cracked, and Al, frozen, could feel her tears on his own face, those his cheeks were dry. "You might as well be in love with him, Alphonse, because no one will ever be able to come between the two of you!"

"That's...not true..." Al said.

"Oh, fuck you Alphonse. You and your naïveté. You can't even see it yet, but your devotion to your brother will always hold you back in relationships, and no girl will want to share you with Edward. He will be your loneliness in your old age; he will be why you never find your special someone." There was a bitter laugh from Julie, but it was so much not Julie that Alphonse wondered if this really was her. "I'm just glad I got out when I did." She sounded so...derisive, almost...crazy. "Whatever. Do whatever. Like I give a damn anyway. And I don't. I don't care what you do. I'll write that book; I'll write it and I'll make you both suffer for it. Then you'll understand just how much...how much I hate you!" A loud clang announced the end of the conversation, and Al, shaking, slipped the telephone back into its cradle on the wall. Then, dazed, he walked into the kitchen and sank into a seat at the table, staring into space.

It was in the kitchen where Edward found Alphonse, a blank, worried expression on his face. Dropping the brown food bags on the counter, Ed poked Al in the shoulder to rouse him from his meditation. "Hey, Al, what's wrong?"

Alphonse glanced up and blinked in surprise. "Oh, Ed! When did you get back?"

"Just now. What's the matter, Al? You were gazing off into space, and you looked really worried. Something bothering you?"

Al turned his head away. "...Julie called today."

Ed sat abruptly in a chair beside Alphonse. "Oh. What did she have to say?"

"She said she's going to write that book. She wanted to tell me so that I could abandon you before it comes out, denounce you as family so that her book won't burn me too."

Ed grinned. "That it? That's what had you so worried?" Edward laughed softly. "Don't worry, Al. She won't be writing that book."

Al jerked his head up. "What? Why not?"

Ed shrugged, that familiar cocky look on his face. "I'll sue. I will make it impossible for her to publish that book. I mean, there's no way they would print a nonfiction biography about me without my consent."

Al was amazed at how calm Edward was acting, as though everything would be alright for them, book or no book. How could he be so nonchalant, when Al was sweating bullets over the mere prospect? But Edward was so easily enraged that it was odd to see him so cool and collected now, as though everything would solve itself. How was that possible?

"But, Al, I think something else is bothering you," Ed said, breaking into Al's reverie. "There's something you're not telling me."

Al jolted up, his face flushed and embarrassed. "...there was something Julie said that...unnerved me."

"What?"

"...she said that my...devotion to you would prevent me from having other relationships."

Edward frowned. Then he stood and paced the room, once, twice...and when he started to walk around the room the third time, Al had to cry out for him to stop. "You're making me dizzy, Brother!" he said. Edward paused and glanced up in surprise.

"I'm sorry, Al. I was just...thinking."

Al nodded. "Yes, yes. About what?"

Edward walked over to the counter and began to unload the bags. "It's something I've been thinking about for a while, actually, and this call from Julie just solidifies it in my mind." Pulling out a carton of eggs, Edward stuck his head in the fridge and said, so his voice was barely audible to his brother, "I think you should start dating again."

"Excuse me?" Al asked, half in disbelief and half from hoping he heard wrong. "Did you just say I should start dating again?"

Ed straightened his head out of the refrigerator and nodded solemnly. "Yeah, Al, I did." But Edward's eyes were not happy.

"Why!" Al exclaimed, standing up from his seat. "Brother, isn't that the last thing you should want?"

"Why is that, Alphonse?" Ed asked with a serious smile. "I want you to be happy; I don't want to hold you back. Yes, I will be...jealous," Ed admitted, "but it's what you want to do, right? You miss girls, don't you?"

Al bent his head down. "I..." But to be honest, he wasn't sure what he wanted. Did he really want a girlfriend again? The pain of Julie's betrayal still stung, but it was something more than that which held him back, kept him from dating again. Perhaps it was the pain in Edward's eyes whenever a beautiful face caught Al's attention, or when a girl would flirt with Al. Perhaps he was scared to lose Edward again to that jealousy which had driven him from their home the first time.

Perhaps it was the prospect of losing that- the sense of home- that scared Alphonse the most. Because what was home without Edward?

Yet Alphonse voiced none of these thoughts, instead nodding slowly. "Well, I don't really want to get into a relationship again, but…I suppose you're right. I should…start dating again."

Ed nodded. "That's right. You were hurt by Julie, so it makes sense that you wouldn't want to get back in a relationship, but dating just might take your mind off her betrayal." For some reason, Al noted, Edward seemed to think his brother was upset by Julie's phone call because he still felt hurt by her. It wasn't that though; at least, not really.

"Brother, I…" Al began to say, but trailed off, not sure what it was he really wanted to say.

Ed looked over, a puzzled look on his face. "Yeah, Al?"

Alphonse stared up at him for a moment, in silence, wondering what it was that made him sad when he looked at Edward. Guilt? Maybe. He looked down at the kitchen table. "…nothing."

So Alphonse began to date again, though one girl melted together with the next and the next, so on until three weeks had passed and Edward was growing frustrated. It was bad enough to see Al go out every other night, nicely dressed and ready to impress some girl with his charm and beauty. It was worse, because Ed was the one encouraging it!

Alphonse, meanwhile, could not understand his own mind. Why was it so hard to date now? Before Julie, dating had been fun: the prospect of someone new, someone different, for him to impress, to charm, to woe. But now Al viewed it as a chore, a promise he made to Edward to give his life a bit of normalcy. The whole situation demonstrated the amount of guilt Ed felt for holding his brother back, burdening him. Yet Alphonse never had blamed Edward for that in the last five months, only wishing to make up for his careless inconsideration for his brother's feelings. Alphonse hated that, thinking over every kiss he and Julie shared in front of Edward, how he hurt him each time.

In part, that was why Alphonse now could find no joy in dating. The women hadn't changed; they were all still friendly, pretty, intelligent, even interesting people to hold conversations with. No, it was Al who had changed, for always in the back of his mind was the haunting, harrowing image of Edward's sad, wistful eyes every time he went out on a date. And it wasn't even so much that Alphonse felt guilty for the pain he caused Edward, but because, each time he went on a date, it felt to him like he was...cheating.

Cheating! No, impossible, why would he feel that? He could never really think that dating other girls was a form of cheating on Edward! Agh, no, Alphonse thought. No way. Never. Im.poss.i.ble.

It wasn't like he was in love with Edward. His brother had many faults and flaws, and was too proud to admit to them (unless it was to Teacher, before whom Edward was eternally humble- even when he tried to give her attitude.) As a brother, he loved Edward unconditionally, but as anything else, well, Alphonse had standards. Alphonse was going to marry, eventually, and it would do no good to consider that cheating either. So he forced himself to continue to see girls, though never the same one.

And maybe that was because, whether he liked it or not, there was a heavy feeling inside his heart that told him that what he was doing was...wrong.

Yet three weeks had passed and finally Al threw in the towel. "Brother, I give up," he said one evening, standing in the library door and glaring at Edward. "I don't want to go on another date. I can't."

Ed looked up from his book. "But Al, why not? Surely you must have seen one girl who interests you?"

Al shook his head. "Not really. I'm just not..." Al frowned. Well, to say he just wasn't in the mood to see girls would probably scare Edward, but to say he was tired would be worse. "I'm just not ready yet," he finally said, playing off of Ed's belief that he was still upset over Julie.

Edward got the message. Putting his book down, he sighed and stood. "Oh, Al, I know it's hard, but give these girls a chance. You may," and no matter how hard it was for him to suggest it, Ed somehow managed, "you may just find your future wife."

Al scowled. "I don't want to find my wife right now. Can't you accept that I'm happy without a girlfriend? That I don't need one?"

"Al, why are you being so stubborn?"

Alphonse clenched his fists. It wasn't fair for Edward to accuse him of being stubborn; he was doing this mainly to keep his promise to Ed in the first place. And it wasn't as though he wasn't trying, he really was, but somehow...somehow he just could not enjoy it, their company. "I'm not being stubborn, big brother! I just don't want to date right now!" Al shouted in frustration. "It's all your fault, Brother!"

Ed's jaw dropped, taken aback. "My fault? How-?"

Al screwed his eyes shut, tears of anger and confusion beading at the corner of his lashes. "It's your fault I can't enjoy dating anymore! All! Your! Fault!"

Edward glared. "What do you mean, it's my fault?" he said sharply.

"I mean that since you came back, I can't...I can't...I don't like girls anymore!" Al covered his face with his hands, horror striking his face a clammy white. "What have you done to me?" he whispered.

"I...Al?" Edward muttered, falling back into his seat. "You really blame for that, huh? 'What have I done to you,' indeed." Shadows ate up his face. "I suppose it would be better if I just left, then?"

Al looked up at Edward from behind his long pale fingers. "Yeah, I think so," he said back, bitter. Bitterness eating him up inside.

Ed stood up again. "Fine, if that's how you feel."

"Fine!"

"Fine! I'll leave!"

"Good riddance!"

"You guys need to get laid."

Ed and Al, now face to face, their cheeks red, their eyes narrowed, glanced at the doorway where a puzzled Mustang smirked at them. Both took a step back and looked down at their feet.

Roy stepped forward, a look of concern on his face. "What's this about, FullMetal?"

"Nothing," Ed muttered. "We were just...arguing. It's...nothing."

Al glanced up at Roy and frowned. "How'd you get in here, Colonel?" he asked.

"Oh!" Roy turned to Al with a smile on his face. "The front door was unlocked. And you two were so loud, I could hear you from the porch."

"What did you hear?" Ed asked softly, his voice cautious.

Roy shrugged. "Nothing really. Just shouting."

Ed sighed. "Oh."

Al rubbed his eyes ruefully, then smiled widely. "What did you come over for, Colonel?" he said cheerfully.

"Mustang asked me to do some research," Ed replied. To Roy, he said, "I'll go get the notes." Nodding at Roy, Edward quickly left the room.

Alphonse stared at the ground, still embarrassed that Mustang had walked in on them arguing. Oh, if he had heard what they were yelling about too, that would have been worse.

But, Al thought, what had he meant when he told Edward that he no longer liked girls because of him? Alphonse had been searching for the words to explain his frustration, and those had just sort of...come out. Was that really how he felt? Al thought to himself. Was he really upset because he...

No! No! Impossible...could not happen.

He liked girls. Of course. That was just a...slip. A sign of his anger; he was so upset he did not even know how to explain himself properly. He hadn't meant it, though. Girls were the best! He loved girls!

But even thinking that did not settle that bubbling feeling in his stomach, the one that said if he had to spend another evening with a girl he would hurl.

Alphonse cursed himself.

"Here you go, Colonel," Ed said, handing a file to Mustang when he returned a moment later.

Roy nodded and was about to leave but paused and stared at the pair of brothers for an intense moment. They were so solemn, Roy wondered what that quarrel had been about. Then, laughing, he said, "I'm serious! You two need to get laid!" Roy slapped the file against his hand, though there was no need; he had their full attention. "You're coming with me tonight. Neither of you will go home alone- and if you do, at least not sober."

"But-" Al began to protest.

"No, no protests. I won't hear of it," Roy cut him off. "The reason you two were arguing with each other is because you feel cooped up in this house. You need to get out and have fun! Enjoy life!"

"And by enjoying ourselves you mean have meaningless sex and binge drink?" Edward asked.

Roy glanced at Ed for a moment, then dropped his research notes on the table and grabbed them both by their collars. "For tonight, yes!" he said as he dragged them out of the house and dumped them in the backseat of his car.

And the only thoughts running through their minds was that marriage had given birth to Maes Hughes all over again, as Roy effectively kidnapped the Elric brothers.

"He left us here." Edward watched as Roy drove off down the street. "I can't believe he just left us here!"

"And with all this cash!" Alphonse exclaimed, now slightly woozy after three drinks. He fanned the money in front of Ed's face.

Edward's eyebrow twitched. "This has to be illegal. There must be some law that forbids leaving me alone with a drunk minor!"

Al frowned. "Hey, I'm almost twenty-one, Ed. I'm not that young."

"I know, I know," Edward grumbled under his breath. As Al began to totter, Ed grabbed his arm and steadied him. "Come on, we might as well go in. I'm not going to stand out here all night."

Edward dragged Alphonse inside the restaurant and sat them down at the table. Ed then took the money Al held loosely in his hand and tucked it in his coat pocket. Al pouted. "But Ed, I'm hungry."

"You'll throw up if you eat," Ed snapped, not in the mood for Alphonse to start acting like a teenager. After Roy dragged them out of the house, he took them to a bar and tried to encourage them to pick up girls. And by encourage, Roy meant to booze them up a bit first. Unfortunately for Al, who was gullible, he really believe Mustang when he told him it was just really foamy apple juice. Edward, who knew better, refused anything to drink. Al, however, drank three pints of beer; he only stopped when he complained about his head hurting. Roy then tried to coax Al to approach a girl, but she immediately started flirting with Mustang. Alphonse did not seem to care and Ed pointed out that, with Roy around they were less likely to meet anyone, because Roy was married.

He never imagined that Mustang would abandon them in the middle of nowhere to "try their luck."

Edward clenched his fists and glared at a spot over Al's head.

"Hey, Ed, I don't feel too good," Al muttered. "My head really hurts and my stomach feels all sloshy."

Edward sighed. "Do you want to go home, then?" Al nodded. "Okay, I'll get us a cab." Edward stood and Al tried to follow, but the effect of the alcohol was taking its toll on his coordination and Al slipped to the floor. Edward patiently helped Alphonse to his feet, then let Al lean on him as they left the restaurant. Hailing a cab, they made their way home, Alphonse resting his head on Ed's shoulder.

When they got home, Alphonse was nearly asleep and Edward had to carry him inside. Ed made slow progress to Al's bedroom, where he dropped Al on top of his sheets. Sitting beside him on the bed, Ed wondered if he should get Al into his pajamas or leave him in his day clothes. He reached a hesitant hand out to the top button of Al's shirt, but he drew it back after a second.

"This is stupid," Ed mumbled, standing up. But he didn't leave the room, for Alphonse looked so peaceful as he slept. His lips were parted slightly, his hair swept over his forehead and across his closed eyes. It was hard to imagine arguing with that gentle face.

Edward sank back down beside his brother. What did Al mean when he said he didn't like girls anymore...because of him? Surely he hadn't meant it that way; perhaps he got no joy out of it because he...felt guilty? That sounded more like Alphonse, who would blame himself for Ed's jealousy.

"Oh, Alphonse, if only you could...but no." Edward shook his head. "Don't you see? The more you date now, the more girls you go out with, the easier it will be for me when you finally get married."

"I'm not getting married, Edward," Alphonse slurred, startling Ed.

"Al! Y-you're awake?"

Al smiled a little and cracked his eyes open. "I'm not getting married, brother. And I'm not dating any more girls either. I can't." His voice was thick, but his words came out more distinct than before.

Edward frowned. "Why not, Al? Y-you heard me, didn't you?"

Al nodded sleepily. "Yeah, but...I can't. I love you."

"What!" Edward gasped, falling off the bed. Ed scrambled back up to his feet. "What did you say, Al?"

"I...love you," Al said, sitting up. His eyes were drooping, but his voice was determined.

Ed laughed nervously, his eyes watching his brother sadly. "Oh, Al, you don't mean that. You don't even know what you're saying." Edward pulled the blanket out from under Al and tucked him in bed, but Alphonse pushed him away.

"I'm not a baby," he mumbled stubbornly as he tugged the blankets out of Ed's hand and wrapped them around his body. "And I do too know what I'm saying. I said I love you, and I do."

Ed's eyes grew full with sorrow. "But you don't Al. Now cut it out and go to sleep." Edward turned to leave.

Alphonse grabbed Ed's arm. "But I really do love you, Ed," he insisted, his words melting together, but still distinct enough for Edward to freeze. "That's why it kills me to see you so sad," Al whispered.

Edward turned around. "What do you want me to do, Al?" he asked in defeat.

Al released Ed's wrist and scooted over in the bed. "Stay," he said simply.

Ed hesitated for a moment, but then Al smiled, his eyes now beginning to close. "Please," he muttered. Gently, Ed lay down on the edge of the bed and when, a moment later, he felt Al's arm encircle his waist, Edward felt a small smile pull at the corners of his mouth.

"Just don't regret this in the morning, okay?"

Al nestled his head into the back of Ed's neck. "Mm...promise."

"Good night Al." Ed sighed and let his eyes fall shut. "...love you too."

Chapter Seven- Because we can't go back

This was shorter than some of the other ones. Only five-thousand words. But Chapter Eight, I think, will be quite full, so I'm excited to get started on that! Yes, there are at least two more chapters (and a possible epilogue at the end.) Just what do I have planned next? You want to know, don't you? As for this chapter, Julie's back and she's bitter! Edward asked Al to start dating again (even I doubted that scene, but...it sounded good in my head.) Be glad that, for the last scene, I did not really slur Al's words. "'I lofu, Ed...'" Oh, goodness, I cannot even imagine. But the main idea of this chapter...gosh! Could Alphonse really be in love with Edward? And what happens in the morning? Heh heh...on a separate note, I calculated the approximate time that has passed so far, since chapter one and, disregarding the "four years later" bit, it's been nearly a year since Edward came to Central. Eleven and a half months, to be precise. And that is something I want to address- because it will come up soon. Winry and Kenneth have yet to get married. Yet Roy and Riza got married within two months? Well, I explain that by saying...um, they didn't want to make a big fuss about it? I guess so...speaking of Riza, I cannot wait for the baby to be born! Any guesses as to whether it's a boy or girl? I already know, and I have the name picked out too, but speculation on that is more than welcome!

Alrighty! That's all I can think to say right now. Oh, do you think the story is taking any sort of positive progression? I'm afraid that the whole thing is filled with angst...yes, I apologize for the kiss at the beginning, but it was necessary! Well, the last scene was cute, right? Ignore any angsty foreshadowing...heh. Edward, why am I so cruel to you? See you in Chapter Eight! Until then- Rowan