Happy Valentines Day! To celebrate here is the next chapter! It ends with a lot of fluff, so I thought it was a good idea to post the chapter today instead of tomorrow as previously planned.

I'm trying my hardest to get a chapter out every month, though it may be pushed back to every other month. I've been busy with various other projects in my personal life, and it normally takes me some time to get back into the writing mood.

Anyway I hope you like the chapter! This is a combination of two chapters, as you'll see by the break in the middle. This is kinda a little test to see if I like this format or not. I might move to merging up to three chapters in one but I'm not as sure about that. For the time being most chapters will probably be two combined. That should help the story move faster, and I know you guys hate it when I leave you on a cliff hanger, even if that's one of my favorite things to do lol.

Thank you everyone for the support! It really means a lot to me. I can't thank you enough for all the favorites, follows, and reviews. You guys are amazing and so patient with me and my random disappearances. Always remember that I love you guys and am grateful to every single one of you.

Enjoy! :3

Chapter 9

"So you'll need to take it easy for a few months after you're released from the hospital." The doctor droned on in a professionally monotone voice. It was later in the day, the setting sun casting pale red and pink light through the window.

Tomorrow would be the day of Edward's hip surgery. The doctor had already explained the procedure and it's after effects in as much detail as he could without confusing Mustang or Alphonse. Edward was now sitting up in his bed, but he didn't seem to be paying much attention to the doctor.

After regaining the memories of his fall Ed had stayed silent, not talking much to either him or his brother. Even when he had woken up an hour or so after fainting he had said nothing, though both the colonel and Alphonse could see that he was still shaken.

"Does anyone have any questions about tomorrow's procedure?" The doctor's sudden clap achieved its goal of getting his attention. Mustang broke free of his thoughts, looking towards Alphonse after hearing the armor boy let out a small cough.

"I wanted to ask about his fever from earlier. Is he well enough to have the surgery done so soon?" Al sounded uncertain. The nurses had looked Edward over after he had passed out; telling them the fever was most likely a cold that would go away with time.

"I believe he will be fine. The surgery should take no more than an hour to complete. Since he is so young he'll probably heal faster than most of our average hip surgery patients." The doctor seemed sure of himself, giving off an aura of confidence that seemed to put Al at ease. He nodded in acknowledgement while the doctor turned his gaze towards Mustang. After a few moments of silence between them the doctor bowed his head before turning and leaving the room.

"Brother, do you remember most of what the doctor told us about tomorrow?" Alphonse looked at his older brother, his voice low and gentle.

"I heard the whole thing." Edward said, is voice full of bitterness. "I'm going to have more metal put in me so that the bone can heal properly. It's not like I haven't had surgeries that revolved around metal and my body."

Al flinched; Mustang saw guilt flash through his soul fire eyes. "I'm sorry brother; I just wanted to make sure you understood what would happen tomorrow."

"I know Al," Ed suddenly sounded weary, letting out a sad sigh. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay brother, today has been a stressful day for you." Alphonse said as he went to place a hand on his brother's shoulder. Ed shrugged him off, causing Al to pull back uncertainly.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" The older brother asked in a voice that was quiet and cold, like a winter storm. The colonel stiffened as though actually feeling the chill.

Al seemed to feel it as well, he tense up as he asked his brother, "What do you mean by that?"

"You know what I mean, both of you." Edward's voice was almost a weak snarl, "Why didn't you just tell me what had happened and why I was in the hospital?"

The armored boy let out a small sound, as if to answer, when Mustang gave him a sympathetic glance and answered for him. "We didn't want you to dwell on it Edward. We did it because you don't need to worry about it."

"Well I remember it now anyway. I worried about it before then too." Ed looked tired, and he even let out a few small coughs. The colonel didn't want him to wear himself out again.

"Trust me when I say we had your best interests at heart. There's no need to let it get to you like this." Mustang spoke slowly, suddenly reminded of the boy's old demeanor. He could almost see the fire burning in Ed's eyes; it scared him and gave him hope at the same time.

But as soon as the fire had shown itself it faded, leaving behind weary golden coals. "I don't know if I can put my trust in you right now."

Mustang felt his heart crack and he saw Alphonse flinch as though he had been physically struck.

"But brother-" Al began to shake, metal rattling against metal. He couldn't finish his sentence as Ed let out a flurry of coughs.

"Just leave it." The injured boy said after he had finished coughing, he sounded worn out by his own anger. He turned his back on both his brother and the colonel, clearly no longer willing to continue the conversation.

Mustang looked at Al, seeing the sadness and hurt he was feeling reflected in those soul fire eyes. The younger brother lowered his head and looked down at his hands fidgeting in his lap. The colonel let out a small sigh as he sat next to Al, wrapping his arm as best he could over the boy's broad shoulders. He hoped that Edward would forgive the both of them soon, but Mustang felt unsure about it at the moment.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Brother, it's okay. You're fine, the man isn't in here, and you're safe." Mustang was awoken by Alphonse's gentle, yet concerned voice. The room was dark, the only light coming through the open doorway from the hall.

The colonel didn't remember when he had fallen asleep, but he knew it must have been after a sympathetic nurse set up a cot for him near Edward's bed. He remembered gratefully burying himself into the blankets when Al had suggested he get some sleep. But he knew that what had felt like a few minutes to him must have been a few hours in reality.

"I can feel his presence, he must be hiding…" Edward's weak and panicked voice made Mustang sit up. He could see the sheen of cold sweat on Ed's brow, the artificial light casting ominous shadows under his tightly closed eyes.

"He isn't here, he never was here. Only Mustang and I have been here this whole time." Al's tone was patient but the colonel could also hear the slightly frustrated undertone in his voice.

He stood and made his way over to the bed, sitting silently next to the younger brother. Even though Al could never experience physical fatigue he knew the boy was not immune to mental fatigue.

Alphonse looked over towards the colonel, relief showing clearly in his soul fire gaze. "I didn't want to wake you, but I'm glad you're awake now. Brother doesn't seem to want to listen to me…" Al let out a sad sigh, lowering his head.

"I'll watch over him for a bit, you just try to relax. You may not be able to sleep but you do need to rest your mind." Mustang gently eased Al's hand away from Ed's, replacing it with his own. The armored boy let out a small, forlorn, sigh.

"You're right." He said simply as he stood up, making his way over to the doorway. He leaned against the nearby wall, keeping a watchful eye as the armor relaxed slightly.

The loss of Al's touch must have roused Edward. His eyes slowly opened, lazily drifting in the direction he thought Mustang would be.

"Colonel?" He rasped hesitantly. Mustang squeezed his hand tighter in response, receiving a small sigh from the boy. "Your hand is so warm, I'm glad you're here to keep the chill away."

Mustang flinched, looking over towards Al. The younger brother's shoulders sagged. As the colonel shot him a sympathetic glance Al left the room, the hollow clanging footsteps echoing in the hallway.

"Where did Al go?" Edward asked, looking towards the doorway in a panic. The colonel tightened his grip on the boy's hand.

"He just needs a little break, he'll be back soon. You know he would never leave you." Mustang could see Ed's eyes widen as he seemed to realize what he had said that warranted such a reaction from his brother.

"I need to apologize to him when he comes back. I never meant to sound mean, Al's always been sensitive though. I hope he'll forgive me, I'm just always so cold…" Edward trailed off, he sounded so sad and lost. Mustang felt as though his heart might crack.

"How about I lay next to you to keep the chill away?" The colonel knew that before the accident a request like this would have angered Ed. But now Ed looked at him hopefully, relief flickering in his eyes.

"That would be nice." He whispered, his eyes closing slightly as though all this talking had tired him out. Mustang let go of the boy's hand, quickly walking over to the cot as he began to push it towards the bed. As he lined the two up he realized the cot was slightly shorter than Edward's bed. The height difference wasn't too severe as he settled into his cot; it was maybe an inch off at most.

Ed let out a small sigh, leaning his head against the colonel's shoulder. The boy seemed to be craving the contact of another human body.

"Thank you." He whispered, grabbing hold of Mustang's hand. "Could you stay with me? It's nice to have you here, I always feel so safe when you're near."

"I told you before that I would stay for as long as you need me, nothing will change that." The colonel relaxed, tucking the boy's head under his chin. How strange it was that in less than a week the boy seemed to hold sway over his heart. Ed let out a happy sigh in response, burrowing deeper against him.

Mustang could hear Alphonse's metal footsteps nearing the room. Then the armored boy was in the doorway, looking over at the two of them hesitantly.

"Al, I want to apologize if what I said earlier hurt you." Ed turned his head towards his younger brother. "I love you and I want you to stay at my side always."

Alphonse seemed to relax as he took a seat at Ed's right, holding his brother's automail hand in his own. "I love you too brother, you know I'd never leave your side."

Edward relaxed, nuzzling back up against Mustang, his breathing slowing. The colonel looked towards the younger brother, seeing relief glittering in his soulful eyes.

Mustang let out a contented sigh. He had always longed to be this close with the two brothers. It seemed now that each boy held one half of his heart and he had never felt so grateful. He let his eyes close, happiness and contentment dragging him down into the darkness of sleep.