Not in chronological order, but the boys' ages will be listed at the top of every chapter.

Edward and Ling spend the day together in Central

Edward, 15. Ling, 15.

So, I Guess We're Friends or Something

Mustang-Elric Residence

"For the last time Winry, I don't want to go anywhere with that idiot prince!" Ed said as he fed his son a bowlful of oatmeal. Honestly, after everything that had happened recently, he wasn't comfortable leaving his son for the day, nor was he really up to being social.

"He's your friend Edward, and you could use a break. I'm watching Yuery with AL's help and you are showing Ling around Central." Winry said with a frown.

"Since when is he my friend? He eats up all my food, breaks into my house, and annoys the crap out of me!" Ed said.

"Oh you know you like him and its good for you to get away for awhile instead of dwelling. We all know you're dwelling." Winry said.

"Winry, please don't make me do this." Ed whined. "I don't feel like going out anywhere."

"Which is why you are going Edward Elric. You need to get out of your own head for awhile." Winry said.

"I'm not going." Ed said stubbornly.

Central Market

Ed stood at the corner with his hand in his pockets and kicking a pebble as he waited for Ling. He hoped the other boy hurried up, the quicker they met up, the quicker Ed could go home. He sighed heavily wondering how he ended up here. He knew the answer of course, Winry's glare was nearly as scary as Hawkeye's or Teacher's. When she gave him that look, he couldn't get out of the house fast enough.

He probably owed his son and brother an apology for leaving them with her anger. She was probably going to do that whole rage cleaning thing she did when he told her he was in the hospital again… Ling appeared suddenly beside him before he could dwell on it further, which was probably for the best.

"Lan Fan said I had to come meet you because proper friends actually speak to each other more than once in a while." Ling said with a shrug.

"Yeah, that's pretty much what Winry said… Did Lan Fan give you that look? "

"The one that makes you fear for the safety of you descendants lest they somehow make the same mistake and wake her vengeful spirit?"

"…Or you know, fear that next time you need a tune up she's going to be extra mean…but wow vengeful spirit? That's some look." Ed said as they finally started walking down the sidewalk.

"So, what are we doing anyway?" Ling asked as he caught up with Ed.

"I donno. I'm not to come back for at least two hours…want to check out the park?" Ed said.

"Oh! Do they have swings? And a Jungle gym?" Ling asked excitedly.

"Yes." Ed replied hesitantly.

"I love swings. I only have a few months left at the most before I have to return home and behave like a proper prince. I want to have fun while I can. To the swings!"

"How are you in charge of anyone?" Ed grumbled but led the way to the park.

As promised the park did indeed have playground equipment. Ling squealed in a manner that seemed decidedly unprincelike and rushed toward the swingset while yelling for Ed to hurry up. Ed admittedly had not actually played at a park in a very long time. Certainly not since he got his automail. He wasn't sure how the swings would handle the extra weight.

The swings held him without a problem. He was a bit worried someone would see him, Fullmetal Alchemist, playing on the swings like a grade-schooler. He quickly pushed that idea aside in favor of trying to outswing Ling.

They ended up both in a laughing heap on the soft sand a few minutes later both to dizzy to stand yet. Eventually they pulled themselves to their feet and stumbled passed the two woman who had just entered the play area with young children. Both mothers had bemused expressions as they watched the teenagers run off in the direction of the sweets shop at the edge of the park.

Twenty minutes later the two teens were walking around the square each with a bagful of candy in one hand and a kabob in the other. "This is great!" Ling said as he juggled his bag into his other arm so he could grab out a handful of chocolates. "Fu said I shouldn't eat sweets, that they'd ruin my complexion which is unbecoming of a prince and Lan Fan said it makes me too hyper." Ling exclaimed not noticing Ed's expression until he had taken about half a dozen steps alone.

"You are going to get me in trouble with your crazy bodyguard! Don't I have enough scary women in my life already? Why would you do this to me, I thought we were friends!"

"We are friends! Don't worry they won't blame you for this, I do this at least once a month anyway." Ling assured, which Ed did not believe but decided to shrug it off because nothing could change the fact that Ling just finished off his bag of candy anyway. "So I guess we're friends now?" Ling added.

"Yeah I guess so, you are slightly less annoying than most people. Just don't give my son sweets, he's too little. The book was clear on that." Ed replied. "Come on, you can come over to my place to say hi to Yuery and pick up your guards."