Firstly let me preface with this: the Writings of H.H.H III is NOT abandoned. I know it's been a while since I updated that, but I've just been so busy with school and life that I haven't had a chance. The only reason this story is getting posted ahead of the next installment of TWOHHHIII is because today is a very symbolic day, and I had to take advantage of it.

What is today, you ask? It's October 3, the very day Edward and Alphonse Elric burned down their home and left for Central. In honor of the occasion, I decided to finally post my first ever FMA fanfic! I watched Brotherhood a few months ago and fell in love with it (and I watched the 2003 a couple weeks ago and was a little less in love with it but that's besides the point). The point is I adore the relationship between Ed and Al and thus, this story was born.

Enjoy!

For five years, Alphonse had dreamt of what it would be like to have a body again. He spent countless hours through countless sleepless nights imagining everything he would eat, drink, feel, experience… But now that his dream had at last come true, he didn't know what to do with it.

It had been almost half a day since Edward walked with him through the Gate, body and soul as one, but it was only now beginning to sink in. Alphonse Elric was back, really and truly back, with every bit of humanity he'd been robbed of for half a decade. Of course, he'd felt it the moment he opened his eyes on the crumbling concrete around Central, but everything moved so fast, he didn't have time to stop and really take it all in. Now, he and his brother were laying adjacent in the hospital, moonlight filtering in through the window, and Al finally had a moment to think.

He took in a breath, marveling at the feeling of air filling his lungs and the tickling oxygen being trickled into his nose by tube.

When they'd arrived, the staff had been horrified by Al's appearance, rushing him to intensive care. More staff tried to take Ed to a different area to assess his injuries, but he simply wasn't having it, and refused to comply with any examination until he was allowed to be with his brother. Al smiled at the memory; that was his big brother, all right. Protective to a fault.

Once the doctors were sure they'd hooked up enough fluids and medications to keep Alphonse stable, the two were visited by Hawkeye on behalf of Mustang, told a bit about the military's state now that the battle was over, and then left alone. It had been a few hours since the last nurse had come to check on the boys, and a while since Al had heard noise from Ed's side of the room. So now, alone in the familiar silence of night once again, Al was soaking up every bit of it.

It was kind of funny. Everything Alphonse thought he missed the most about human life had to do with senses like taste and smell. But he had seriously underestimated the effect of touch. There was feeling in everything. From the thin blanket against his legs, to the pillow under his head, to the hair framing his face, to less pleasant things like the various needles in his arm and the ache deep in his bones. But even undesirable feelings such as those Alphonse took in with all his being, because feeling hurt, he decided, was a lot better than feeling nothing at all. He would appreciate every sensation, no matter how unpleasant, because he had taken it for granted. Seeing Edward fight so hard for so many years to fix their mistake had its effect, and Al wanted his brother to know he was embracing every bit humanity had to offer.

Alphonse sighed, looking back at the window. It was covered by a thin curtain, but it hadn't been drawn completely, offering a sliver of sight into the outside world. The moon was bright, offering enough illumination to see the room fairly well. Al had seen plenty of this hospital over the past year, with his brother's knack for getting himself injured, but it was another thing to be the one in bed. Of course, Ed was there too, expecting his own treatment in the coming days, but it had been a long time since Alphonse had been a patient. Frankly, he'd been scared he never would be again, but here he was.

He turned away from the window, eyes falling on Ed's bed. He could just make out the lump of blankets that marked his brother, rising and falling gently as he slept. Sleep… Al knew he was absolutely exhausted, but spending so many years unable to sleep had him struggling to fall into it. He bit his lip, gaze still focused on Edward, contemplating. He shouldn't wake him… but he also knew Ed wouldn't be angry if he did. Ed's concern for Alphonse always outweighed his short temper. Resigned, Al decided it was worth a shot.

"Brother?" Alphonse whispered. His voice was hoarse, reminding him he was using his actual vocal chords again. "Brother?" He said a little stronger.

Ed stirred a little, turning in Alphonse's direction. "You say something, Al?" His half-asleep voice rang out.

"Yeah. Sorry to wake you."

"It's alright. What's up?"

"Just having a little trouble falling asleep…"

Ed snorted. "Ironic."

"I know."

"We can talk if you want." Ed paused. "Actually, I have a better idea." He pushed himself up, swinging over the bed railing.

"I don't think we're supposed to get out of bed…" Alphonse said, getting Ed to roll his eyes.

"Well, they can fight me then. Besides, I'm not the one hooked up to a million tubes." The older boy climbed into the adjacent bed. Al's emaciated body took up hardly any space, and Ed settled right next to him.

"I don't think the doctors will like this," Al commented.

"Oh, shut up, they can deal with it. I'm not leaving."

Alphonse smiled. "Thanks, brother." The two laid there for a minute, soaking in the feeling of their shoulders pressed together, before Al snaked a hand leftward. His fingers found Edward's and tangled together. In response, Ed squeezed reassuringly.

"Your hand is warm," Al said.

"I know. It's weird."

Al blinked; he hadn't even realized it was Ed's right hand he was holding. He locked his grip tighter; Ed hadn't been able to feel there in five years, either, and he deserved to embrace the sensation. As he did, though, a sudden wave of sadness descended over Alphonse. They may have fulfilled his side of the mission, but Ed had only gotten half of his losses restored.

"I'm sorry we couldn't get your leg back," Al said softly.

"It's alright." Al gave his brother a skeptical glance. "Really. I'm okay, Al. You were more important. Just having you back is enough for me." A bittersweet smile crossed both boys' faces before Ed laughed. "Besides, I don't know what Winry would do if she didn't have anything left to fix."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Still sorry, though."

"It's my reminder. Of the mistakes I've made, the things I can't take back… but also what I've learned because of it. Besides… my goal was always to save you."

"Mine too, Ed. Mine too."

Edward pulled his hand free, reaching up to tousle Al's hair. It was harder with how long it had grown, but the feeling was just like Alphonse remembered Ed doing it when they were little. He leaned into the touch, smiling. The two were quiet for a few minutes, and Ed had just begun to fall back asleep when Al spoke.

"What do we do now?"

"Hm?"

"We've been focused on getting our bodies back for so long, we haven't talked about what we would do after."

"What about all that stuff about eating pie and soup and whatever?"

"No, I mean what's our next goal?"

Ed thought about this for a moment. "I'm not sure. I guess I didn't have one." He folded his arms behind his head, resting against his hands in the way he often did while thinking. "There's a lot of people in Resembool we should probably see. Especially Granny and Winry. They've dealt with our losses just as much as we have, and they deserve to be the first ones to see us." Ed cast a sideways glance at his brother. "Of course, none of this is happening until you're better. You're lucky to be alive, Al."

"I am, aren't I? But you've got your own healing to do, too." Al pictured the thick bandage around Ed's left arm, where he'd been impaled by rebar. Not to mention the remnants of automail stuck in his right shoulder like shrapnel.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine. Worry about yourself for a while; those doctors were amazed you survived the trip to the hospital."

"I know. I guess I'm just used to worrying about you, brother. But as soon as I'm good enough to go, we're heading home."

"And I'll make sure Winry has the biggest apple pie ready when we do."

Alphonse grinned. "Yeah, I can't wait… But you know what? That's not what I've been thinking about since being back."

"Really? You wouldn't shut up about all that for years."

"I know. But now that I have my body again, the thing I've been thinking about the most is how everything feels."

"Like… pain?"

"No. Just… the sense of touch. I- I didn't realize how much I missed it. Even more than taste and smell, it's touch that makes me feel the most human."

Ed was quiet, taking this in. He brushed his fingers through Al's hair again, each strand registering subconsciously in his mind. "Yeah. I have to agree." Ed grinned back. "And about our next goal… maybe we don't need one right now. Maybe… we can just enjoy life for a little while. I can't even remember the last time we did that. And as much as I love action, I could use a little life-living right now." Edward took Alphonse's hand again, holding it against his chest.

"You know… that sounds pretty perfect to me," Al replied. After that, the room fell silent once again, and soon, Ed's grip on Al's hand loosened with sleep. Still, even in his sleep, he didn't let go, and the ever present, ever comforting feel of his hand stayed with Al.

And, with that, for the first time in five years, Alphonse too drifted off to sleep.

I'd love to hear some feedback on this! As my first dive into the FMA world, I want to know how I did with the characters! Did they seem like themselves? Lemme know :)

And lastly, I will have the next chapter of TWOHHHIII up shortly!