This is my first fanfic ever! So be kind. This is based on the life of Greed, before he was turned into a homunculus. This is just my interpretation and not really what his life was like before. Greed and all other FMA characters belong to Arakawa Hiromu. Elizabeth and the story belongs to me. Enjoy, and the second part will be up as soon as possible.

Part 1: Memories

My parents had recently died, old age I suppose. They were buried in the courtyard of the estate that the Riviera family had lived in for generations. My parents had never made life easy for me, forcing me to take up alchemy, studies, and piano lessons. "It builds character" they said, and then went on the whole "one day you'll thank us speech". Even after death they decided to make my life just that much harder for me.

Before they died, they had had another child. A girl. Elizabeth. She was too young to remember our parents so she always looked up to me to be her role model. This was unfortunate for her since I'm not the greatest role model to choose from. Go figure. I never wanted to be burdened with a wife and a family, and having a kid sister to look after is just as bad. Don't get me wrong, I love my little sis, but I just want to live my life as I see fit.

All the things my parents forced on me weren't all bad. Well, piano lessons were extremely boring, and I didn't like studying one bit, but I enjoyed alchemy. To be able to create things through alchemy made me feel like, magic almost. My alchemy teacher was a kind man who taught me many great things. The one and only thing he forbade me from doing was practicing human transmutation. When my parents died, he was deathly afraid that I would use it on them.

"Relax Hoehiem," I would tell him. "I don't plan on raising the dead."

He didn't believe me though and kept a sharp eye on me for a while, which was okay since he'd help me look after Elizabeth. He acted so old for his age. That was the amazing thing about my teacher; he never seemed to age…

"Brother! Catch me!"

"Aw, come on, I'm tired of this game."

"But brother! I really want to play. Please." She grabbed onto the hem of my shirt and looked up at me with those big green puppy eyes that reflected my own. Damn it.

"Well … just for a little bi — "

"Yeah!"

She ran off down the road giggling to herself. How can someone so innocent be so tricky!

We played like this every afternoon. In the mornings we would eat breakfast and then I would teach her a little bit about history and science … well Hoenhiem would teach her. Then we would break for "brunch", my god what a useless thing, but teacher always insisted. We would head into town together, the three of us, and buy whatever needed buying, sometimes a dress or two to make Elizabeth happy. We usually ate there and then came home for alchemy lessons. I taught Elizabeth basic alchemy and Hoenhiem would evaluate how much I knew. That was my favourite time of the day. Then was the dreaded afternoon "play-time". Great. We'd then stop for "afternoon tea" another favourite of teacher's. After that was the eternal struggle to get Elizabeth to go to bed quietly and without a fuss. Then when the living nightmare is finally asleep, I can get some time to myself just to think or read … or go into town, wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more. Hehehe.

As much as I enjoyed Hoenhiem's company, I had to admit he was an odd guy. He would talk about things that happened a century ago as if he was there. I know he's old, but he's not that old. Actually, I never asked his age, mother said it was rude. Though I think she was talking about asking a woman's age. Ah well, no point in dwelling in the past.

In some conversations I had with Hoenhiem, the name "Dante" would pop up every so often. Apparently they were in love, but didn't see much of each other. Odd kind of relationship they have if you ask me.

"Stop squirming already, it's time for bed! H-hold still!" I screeched. As if that would calm her down. Seeing me getting aggravated meant that her plan was working. It was like this every night. She'd put up a fuss about going to sleep. "Read me a story!" "Five more minutes brother!" "I'm not sleepy yet! 'yawn'" "I'm hungry!" You'll get nightmares I say "No I won't" and then the next morning … "AH! I had a scary dream!" … 'sigh'

"Now hold still and let me put your night gown on … huh?" I looked down and saw that the night gown was empty. I whipped my head around and saw my darling little sister running out the door in her underwear. "…crap."

'This is a new trick' I thought to myself. I looked up and down the house but couldn't see any sign of Elizabeth. 'Did she go outside!' I rushed down the hall to find the front door open.

"Shit, Elizabeth!" I ran outside and looked all around me, but she wasn't there.

"Are you looking for this?" a familiar voice asked.

I turned around and found Hoenhiem holding a giggling Elizabeth. Laughing! Can you believe her? I was worried sick! I thought something had happened to her.

"Thanks Hoenhiem." I said to my teacher warmly, and then I turned to the menace. "You, come here, now." I said firmly. We joked around and had fun most of the time, but she knew when I used that tone of voice I was deadly serious.

"Sorry brother, I was only playing…" She said trailing off.

"Playing? And what if Hoenhiem wasn't here? What if someone else grabbed you instead, you could have gotten hurt, you could have been kill -- oh, forget it, just come inside." I said turning around and heading in. I stopped in my tracks when I realized that Elizabeth wasn't following. "What are you doing? I thought I told you to, huh?"

Elizabeth hadn't moved from the spot I had yelled at her, and I noticed that her shoulders were shuddering. She was crying. I didn't think I had been that harsh to her.

I bent down and picked her up and cradled her in my arms. It was weird; all of a sudden I wasn't acting like her brother but like her parent. "Come on, let's go to bed. We're all a little tired. Good night Hoenhiem." except he wasn't there anymore. I didn't really pay much notice then, but subconsciously I wondered what he was doing here in the first place.

I brought her back up to her room, got her dressed properly and then laid her down gently. She had stopped crying but was now hiccupping a lot. I felt really bad now. I didn't know what to say so I just got up and started to leave.

"Brother?" I turned around and saw Elizabeth was sitting up and looking straight at me, new tears forming in her eyes. "Are you still angry with me? I'm sorry."

I started laughing softly. She cocked her head to the side. "Of course I'm not mad, I was just worried … I don't know what I'd do without my little sis." I went and sat down on the edge of her bed and patted her on the head. She smiled up at me. "Hey, do you know what?"

She giggled. We said this to each other all the time. I knew it would make her feel better. "What?"

"I'm crazy for you."

"I'm crazy for you too brother." I kissed her on her cheek and stayed with her until she fell asleep. I really don't know what I'd do without her.

A month later I was sitting at a table in the library reading a new book about alchemy. Hoenhiem had taken Elizabeth out to the village so all was peaceful … until there was a knock at the door. They always seem to come at the worst times. When you're reading a book, or taking a bath. Who ever it was knocked again. "Alright, alright, I'm coming! Geez!" I reached the front door and swung it open. "What!"

It was a man from the village that I recognized, we knew each other well. He was out of breath and looked really panicked about something. "Daniel! Come quickly, it's Elizabeth! She's hurt badly!"

Well? Did you like it? Please R&R especially review. Like I said this is my first fanfic ever so input is very much welcomed.