Warning: This fic contains some spoilers for the movie If you haven't seen it, don't worry, I'm not giving up too much. This is just my own personal take on a few things. I hope you enjoy!

Midori

Caricature of Intimacy
by Midori Bond

Chapter 1

The city she learned to call home was in chaos. Out of no where, huge flying machines were attacking, and suits of armor were advancing, killing everything in sight. Her blue eyes were searching. She had to get the children to safety. They evacuated their school, and she was going to take them to the only safe place she knew.

She would get the children to the bolt holes where the sewers emptied. She held the smallest of the children in her arms and her assistant continued to heard the small orphans down various alleyways. "Roll call," she said loud enough for only the children to hear. A shaky smile came to her face as she listened to the frightened voices saying their name. She had to make sure all of the kids were with her. She couldn't lose any of them. She wasn't sure that her mind would be able to take it.

She paused as the roll ended. She only heard nine names. There were supposed to be ten.

And the one missing was her own son.

"Edmund?" she called out. As she looked behind her, she felt fear gripping her throat.

"Miss Rose, we have to keep going," her assistant whispered. He looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "Give me Danielle, and we'll meet you there."

"Thank you Craig," she whispered as he lifted the two-year old out of her arms. Without hesitating, without thinking of the dangers she was facing, she ran down the street, the exact way she came.

She was in the middle of the main street as an explosion rocked the surrounding buildings. Rose lost her balance and fell to the cobblestone. Her eyes went round as she saw one of the suits of armor, one that looked so much like one of her dearest friends. It was coming after her with a battle axe in hand. She fought her way to her feet, ignoring the trail of blood coming from her leg.

Just as she rounded a corner, Rose slammed into another suit of armor. This one carrying a large sword. Her eyes were round as it raised its weapon over her head. She closed her eyes and pressed her hand against the breastplate. She didn't want to die. "I have to find Edmund," was the only thought in her mind as the bracelet Alex had given her suddenly came to life.

All she heard was the distinct sound of the armor shattering. She opened her eyes and saw pieces of steel, flesh, and some black oily substance falling to the pavement. Before she had the chance to realize what she had done, the Al look-a-like made its way down the alley.

"Get down," a deep voice ordered.

Rose ducked automatically. She covered her face as flame erupted from the air and exploded around the armor, and the two following it. When she felt a hand on her arm, she quickly jerked away. She gasped when she saw the man that saved her. He was tall, pale skin, with dark hair and eyes, only one of his eyes were covered by a patch. He was also in a military uniform. Rose backed away from him and swallowed. It had been almost four years, but she still could bring herself to trust that uniform. "Who are you?" she asked as she stood.

"You shouldn't be here," was all he said.

She shook her head. She wasn't going anywhere without Edmund."I have to find my son," she said as another explosion rocked them. She stumbled forward and was shocked when he wrapped her in his arms to steady her.

He bowed his head. The school was just down the street, and he had seen the small child that resembled her so much, sticking out from under the rubble. "Don't go to the school," he whispered.

Rose's eyes widened as she pushed away from him. As she looked at the sorrow in his eye, she felt her world crack. "No," she breathed before running the rest of the way to the school.

Mustang stood silent as her scream rang through the streets. As he turned to her, he noticed the bracelet she wore. Armstrong had ones like it made for certain people he trusted. Roy's eye closed as he realized who she was. He wouldn't be able to leave her in this state. He jogged towards her, and saw that she had brought her hands together in the same way a certain blonde used to. His jog turned into a sprint as she reached for her son's hand. "Don't!" he shouted.

As he grabbed her hands, more pieces of the building fell. Rose screamed as her son's body was buried, leaving only his hand and bear for view. "Let me go!" she screamed as he pulled her away her little boy... the small child she almost lost her sanity over. "Edmund!" she screamed.

Roy held her close as she fought against him. He could hear the armors coming again, and they were accompanied by the shadows of huge flying machines. As they dropped more bombs, he frowned. Those would have to go. He looked around. He would have to take her someplace safe before going to headquarters.

Rose went limp in his arms. It was over. Her son was gone. Edmund was gone, ripped out of her life, the same way Cain was. the same way Edward was. She closed her eyes as she felt tears coming to them. Every man she loved was dead. Everything she knew about life was turning to dust. "Ed," she whispered as her entire body went numb.

Roy lifted her into his arms. He would make sure she was safe. It was the least he could do, especially after what she just discovered.

These things weren't here to start a war. They were here to massacre his friends, his family. And all of it was his fault. Just because he was too stupid to listen to all of the warnings. Just because he couldn't leave his mother dead and buried.

Edward Elric ran down the streets of the Forgotten City. He had to find a way to get above and stop the planes. He had to stop her. A grin crossed his face as he spotted a building that was mostly toppled over. The mechanical arms and legs he had in the other world were decent, but they were nothing like Winry's automail. With ease he hadn't felt in three years, he scaled the building, making his way to the fourth or fifth air-bomber that passed through the Gate. That was his ticket out.

As he jumped onto the plane's wing, he grabbed desperately onto the metal. This was his mess. Al wanted him back, his father wanted him to return. The people of the Thule wanted to destroy. He wanted everyone to live in peace. He was going to do what was right. He was going to put an end to all of this.

Roy rounded the last corner to Central Headquarters and frowned deeply. The attacks here were worse than he thought. He looked at the catatonic woman behind him and leaned her against the wall of the building. "Rose, I want you to stay here," he said softly. As dull blue eyes looked at him, he frowned. He didn't have the time to charm her into motion. He looked around and saw that there were now armors climbing down the Alchemy banner that was draped over the building.

"Miss. Skyler," he snapped. He knew that most people, could respond to simple orders while they were in shock. Her back straightened, making him nod slightly. "There's a back doorway into Headquarters I want you to find it, and make sure it's clear. I'm going to be sending the injured to you," he said in his most commanding voice.

She nodded before moving towards the building. She would do as before. When Lior was under attack. She would bottle up her own pain for now. Later, she would find time for her grief. Others needed her now. As she made her way to the door he indicated, she saw the bright energy of a transmutation in the sky. Her eyes were wide as she saw one of the flying machines. It's shape changed into one of a large balloon with wings, and a faucet spout nose. "Edward," she whispered as she saw amber eyes on the balloon, and a small figure with a gold tail sitting on top of it. Her breath left her as one of the other flying tanks shot at the angry face. "Edward!" she screamed as the balloon he was on exploded. Tears fell from her eyes. Fate couldn't be so cruel. Fate wouldn't take her little Edmund and give her back Edward, only to snatch him away too.

"Rose," Mustang's voice barked.

Her head shot up and her eyes instantly flew to him. She knew she was shaking. She was going through too much and she wasn't sure if she could cope. She just wanted this to be over. All of this was too much. She turned towards the building and gasped when an armor jumped in front of her. Without a thought, she lifted her hand against its breast plate.

Roy frowned as he watched her. She was destroying the armors the same way Scar would kill. Stopping at step two of the transmutation process. She was moving automatically, but she was making her way to the door with ease. He took a breath as he heard others calling him. He wasn't going to think about what Rose saw. He witnessed the same sight as well. Fullmetal was back. He was actually on this side of the gate, and doing what he does best.

Fighting the bad guy, and causing destruction on a massive scale.

A smirk crossed his face as he and Hawkeye ran closer to the building and saw that the only thing they had to fight against the flying machines with, was a flattened hot-air balloon. He smiled as he looked over his shoulder to the large Colonel next to him. "Armstrong," he said lowly. "Rose Skyler is in the building. Look after her," he said in a whisper.

Armstrong frowned as he saw the young woman in question. She created a small shelter and was now helping injured soldiers. "She should be with her son," he said as Mustang lifted the mouth of the balloon.

Mustang created his spark, watching with careful eyes as the balloon filled. "Her son was in the school," he said lowly. His eye turned to his friend as he jumped into the basket. "It crumbled on top of the boy."

Armstrong's shoulders fell as he looked at Rose again. "She's a strong woman," he said to himself. As Roy's balloon lifted into the air, he saw Hawkeye run over to them.

"Mustang!" she shouted as Armstrong grabbed her around her waist.

"Colonel Hawkeye, please, protect the injured," Roy called out. A smirk crossed his face as she looked at him with a heartbroken expression. "Don't look like that. I only have enough power for one," he told her.

Her jaw clenched as she fought against the Strong Arm Alchemist. "That's a cheap excuse!" she replied. When he was out of firing range, she felt her feet touch the ground again. She growled low in her throat as she drew her rifle and shot four more armors as the approached where Rose had set up her triage unit. She looked at Havoc, Fuery and Breda. "This is our last line," she called out. "Let's not let the Major down."

Havoc smirked around his cigarette. "Who would have thought, we still follow him, even though he's been demoted." He shook his head. "Things never change."

It felt like hours. Rose treated as many as she could, the entire time, fighting back her fears of being surrounded by so many uniforms. She knew Mustang had gone to fight the flying machines. After that, everything became a blur. Two female officers stood near the entrance of her overhang. Both were excellent shots, but she didn't want to think about the destruction around her. If she did, she would focus on Edmund and then Edward.

"All of the men have been treated," Armstrong said as the fighting died.

She wiped her eyes, startled to find that the back of her hands were wet. "Is there any word on Edward?" she asked.

He shook his head, knowing that she loved the young blonde. "No. Nothing yet."

No sooner did the words leave his mouth did Mustang float down to the ground. He looked at the young woman and grimaced. He knew she wasn't going to take this well. He didn't want to take this well.

Rose ran over to him. "Where's Ed?" she asked instantly. She saw the way his eye turned to the ground and frowned. He was about to tell her something that she wasn't going to like.

Mustang stepped to the side and showed her the flying machine that was falling back towards the Gate. "He's going to destroy the door from the other side. We have to do the same here."

Rose's eyes widened as she realized what that meant. "No," she whispered before moving past him. She took to a run as a gold light engulfed the flying machine. "Edward!" she called out.

"Alex," Mustang said lowly. "Please, stop her."

Armstrong could see how the scene was ripping Roy apart. He slammed his fist into the ground and a large wall erected itself in the archway.

"No!" Rose screamed as she met the wall. "Edward," she breathed as she fell to her knees. Her heart shattered as she leaned her head against the stone and the tears that she tried to hold back all day, came back tenfold.

Roy turned to Hawkeye and Ross. "Take her inside. One of you two, or Armstrong will be with her at all times."

"Sir," the three acknowledged.

He closed his eye and lowered his head. He wanted to leave this life behind, but now knew that he couldn't. Just like Edward was owning up to his mistakes, and taking his responsibilities like a man, it was time for him to do the same. He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright with Fullmetal's decision?" Alex asked in a low voice.

His answer was a muse.

"He's doing what he thinks is best for the greater good," Armstrong said in Edward's defence. "We can explain that to Alphonse."

"Al went with him," Roy said looking at the larger man. "The only ones we have to explain everything to is Rose, and Winry Rockbell."

Ed looked behind him as they rode back to town. Noah was looking out into the night sky, but what caught his attention was his brother. Al was curled up in his seat crying quietly. "Hey, you alright back there Al?" he asked turning to face the younger blonde better. When he wiped his eyes, Ed couldn't help but grin. "There's no need for the tears or anything. We destroyed the door. Everyone's safe."

Al shook his head. "No, not everyone," he said in a whisper. He looked at Noah, noticing how much she resembled the woman he was thinking about. His chestnut colored eyes turned to his brother. "Do you remember Rose?"

Ed lowered his head as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I remember her," he said quietly. Of coarse he remembered her. She was one of the people he wanted to protect the most. "Why? Do you think something happened to her?"

"Not her. Edmund." Al looked into Edward's eyes, knowing that there were a lot of things left unsaid between the pair, but also knowing that this was going to hurt Ed as much as Rose. "That's what she named her son."

"Go on," Ed whispered. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach as Al's eyes turned back to the passing landscape.

"When we met on the streets, and I saw the building that had fallen on a child," Al paused as a pained sob escaped him. "And you told me not to bring him back."

Gold eyes slowly widened as his mind caught up with what his brother was telling him.

"It was him," Al cried. "I killed Rose's son."

Noah's heart was breaking as she wrapped her arms around Al's body and pulled him close. She ran her fingers through his hair, trying to comfort him, while seeing everything in his past. "No, it's not your fault," she whispered into his hair.

Edward turned to the front, his own eyes filling with tears. Rose's son, a boy that was only three, and now he was dead. He closed his eyes tightly as he hung his head. He knew Rose was destroyed over this. Yet another sin for him to have on his shoulders. He leaned back in his seat and looked up at the moon. "Why did she name him Edmund?" he asked in a choked voice.

"Because she wanted him to be like you," Al answered in a small voice. "When I asked her, she said she wouldn't name him Edward. That was your name, and if you ever had a son, it was your right to name him Edward. But Edmund was close enough. His full name was Edmund Alexander Skyler."

An ironic smile crossed Ed's face as he wiped tears out of his eyes. "Ed, Al. She always wanted to remember us, even if we never saw her again," he said lowly.

Al shook his head. He always saw Rose. "She wanted a reminder if she never saw you again, Brother."

Hughes looked at the young man sitting next to him. He never expected to see the things that he had, or do the things he did because of Edward, but the more time he spent with the blonde, the more he was starting to like him. "Are you going to look for a way to go back?" he asked lowly.

Ed frowned. It was easy to adjust to life here, but knowing that Rose needed him, that gave him a lot to think about. "I don't know."

TBC...