Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Fullmetal Alchemist nor do I claim to.

Chapter 9

It was shopping day for the Curtis residence, and Izumi was doing her duty as a perfectly normal house wife to bring home groceries and prepare dinner for her husband. As she zoomed around the store in the most efficient manner possible, she was stopped in her tracks by a peculiar-looking man.

She knew that look anywhere, the golden hair and eyes to match. There was only one family line who had those traits, but she didn't recognize this individual. He had to be related to the Elric brothers though, she decided. Though, there was something peculiar about him... something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Izumi watched him fumble with vegetables and fail at picking out the ripe fruit for a minute, until he moved on to the next aisle which mostly had grains and breads.

Envy was busy picking out which kind of disgustingly delicious bread he'd like this time, when someone tapped him on the shoulder lightly. He spun around in a panic, immediately assuming the worst, but he was met with an unfamiliar face of a woman with dreadlocks. Huh?

"You don't look like you've done this a whole lot." She smiled warmly at him.

Envy frowned at her. Was she questioning his good judgement of edibles? He'd only been doing it for maybe a year or so but he thought he'd been getting pretty dang good at picking out food by now, or at least he thought so.

"I didn't mean to offend. I thought maybe I could offer some useful advice is all." She offered, gesturing to his green and too-hard fruit that he'd picked out.

He looked down at his armful of produce. Well, it's not every day he gets a human's advice on human things. He'd just been sort of figuring things out as he went, along with Lust's help.

"Izumi Curtis! Pleased to meet you." She extended her hand and Envy just stared at it like she had just handed him shit from off the ground.

"Well, okay then." She retracted her hand, putting it to her hip and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the blonde. "Pardon me, but you just look very familiar. Are you related to the Elrics, by chance?"

Envy's face went white as a ghost. "N-no! Well, maybe. I guess, in one way or another I might be." He beat around the metaphorical bush, looking around frantically, expecting Edward to jump out of thin air and yell at him for leaving like the coward he is.

"Ah! I knew it!" She clapped her hands together triumphantly, startling poor Envy even further.

Izumi seemed to notice something amiss with him, and she sobered. "Is there something a matter?" She squinted hard at him, studying his face. Envy was very uncomfortable at this point. "You don't look like you've been getting the right nutrients, so let me take you back to my house and I'll cook you a nice supper! It's the least I can do."

"Uh—"

She took his arm and began marching around the store with him to finish her shopping, but not before giving him a quick lecture on how to pick out fruit. She didn't him much of an option to say no.

"Just who the hell are you, anyway?" He was starting to get irritated as she dragged him around.

"Oh, silly me. Hahaha! I forgot to explain." She slapped herself on the chest, laughing heartily. "I am the Elric brothers' teacher. I taught them everything they know about alchemy. Except, well... I'm sure you've heard about Edward." Her eyes softened some as she spoke of him.

Envy's ears perked at Edward's name. "Heard what about him?" His eyes widened, not sure what to expect. He'd better not have gone and died or something, God damnit, or there would be hell to pay!

"Oh, so you haven't. It's been a little while now, but he no longer has his alchemy." She explained, and Envy scratched at his hairline, not quite comprehending.

"You know Alphonse, I'm sure?" She pressed.

"Well, sure. Who doesn't know the tin-can." Envy shrugged, picturing the tall suit of armor who had the tinny voice of a young boy.

Izumi chuckled. "Tin-can, eh? Well, not anymore! Edward found a way to get him back, but it cost him a price. He paid it with his alchemy, and now he can no longer perform it. It's a shame, since he was truly gifted. However! It's much more important that Alphonse is back with us in his rightful body now."

Envy's eyes turned into saucers. The tin-can wasn't a tin-can anymore? Whoa. He had no idea what Alphonse even looked like when he was human. Thinking about that, Envy actually cracked a small grin. He supposed everyone else would feel that way about him as well, since no one knew what he looked like as a human either until now. Such irony, he thought.

"Well, there you have it." She smiled and finished checking out with Envy still in tow, getting ready to depart for her house.

"Good morning, Noah." Edward smiled at his usual waitress who was ready with his coffee before he even got there. She was really on the ball. She had even remembered that he didn't like milk, and only took two sugars.

"Morning, Mr. Elric!" She beamed at him brightly as she set the perfectly prepared coffee before him just as soon as he sat in his usual seat by the window.

Edward took a small sip, since it was still piping hot. "Please, don't call me that. It makes me feel old." He chuckled softly, thinking inwardly that at least Elric was better than Hohenheim.

"Oh, yes of course." She continued to smile. This was the most conversation she'd had with him, well, since ever. Maybe she was starting to break through.

He was gazing out the window for a moment, before he looked back at Noah who was still standing there beaming as brightly as ever.

"This is all I'll be having today, thanks." He said, thinking she was just being polite and waiting to see if he wanted to order something else.

"O-oh. Sure. Let me know if you need anything else, Edward." Her cheeked heated with a blush when she said his first name, but she was a little disappointed that he sent her away. He just wasn't ready, that's all.

Edward thought she was acting a little strange this morning, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Noah was always pretty bubbly, and maybe even a little absentminded, but recently she started to remember how he liked his coffee and that meant a lot to him.

His golden orbs searched the streets outside for any sign of Envy, like they always did. It was silly to think he might just show up one day outside this particular coffee shop, Edward knew that. But he still kept on looking. It was something that helped keep him sane, because he couldn't just accept the fact that Envy left forever. He had to come back someday. He just had to.

Finally back at the Curtis residence, Izumi and Envy arrived. She instructed him to start unpacking groceries and help her put things away.

Envy wondered the entire time how this woman was able to do all this to him, but for some reason he just couldn't say no to her. It's like she had some sort of unseen force over him. He wondered if Edward felt the same way when she was his teacher.

Pretty soon they were both working on dinner. Envy wasn't very good at cooking yet, but he knew some things. He figured out really quick that eating is a lot more tolerable if it at least tastes good.

"So, tell me about yourself. I don't even know your name." Izumi struck up conversation as they worked together.

"It's Envy." He replied without looking at her.

"Envy? Hmm. Envy what?" She hummed, thinking that sounded weirdly familiar. Wasn't that the name of one of the homunculi the boys were fighting against years back? She was fairly certain they were all named after the Seven Deadly Sins.

"Envy Nothing. It's just Envy." Just because he was human didn't mean he had to go by his old human name. The only thing he fabricated for himself as a homunculus that he could actually still keep was his name, so that's exactly what he was going to do.

"Alright, Envy. So how do you know the Elrics? Perhaps you also know their father, Van Hohenheim? You do look a great deal like him." She began chopping carrots.

Envy visibly bristled at the name Hohenheim, and he gripped the counter without responding.

Izumi paused her chopping mid-slice, noticing his sudden discomfort. "I'm sorry. I hit a sore spot didn't I?" Her voice was soft and motherly, and was oddly comforting to him.

"That's putting it fucking lightly." Envy grumbled, turning away from the food. He suddenly lost his appetite.

Izumi sensed there was some history here that even she wasn't aware of. She didn't know Hohenheim very well, but he did approach her one day to thank her for taking care of his boys in his absence. He seemed like a nice enough man, but then again what kind of father leaves his two boys alone, especially after their mother died?

She placed the knife gently on the cutting board and turned towards Envy, a serious look upon her face.

He gulped slightly, half expecting her to scream at him, but instead she spoke gently still.

"Now, we can do this one of two ways. I can finish making you dinner and you can eat and go on your way like we'd never even met, or you can tell me all about it in your own time and I'll do my best to help you with what ever problems you are having." She said with the most sincerity a human being could be capable of.

Envy's mouth hung open as he listened to her. Could this lady be for real? Doesn't she have anything better to do than take in stray humans? How pathetic.

He made a 'tsk' noise, and looked off to the side, pondering his response. He was tempted to just leave, but something about this woman told him he could trust her. He couldn't deny the fact that he was seriously lacking in human connections, and this was a good opportunity to make one.

Finally, he steeled himself, biting his lip. "Whatever."

That's all he said before he wordlessly continued to help Izumi finish dinner.

She smiled, knowing that must have been Envy's way of saying she'd won him over.

Edward finally decided Envy wasn't going to show up today. What else did he expect? Every day was the same. He must have looked pretty pathetic, coming here every day to wait for his long lost love. If anyone knew, they would surely laugh at his ignorance.

Just as he was getting ready to leave again, he caught Noah staring at him from behind the counter. When she noticed he had looked her way, she quickly averted her eyes and blushed hard.

Smiling, Edward decided to go out on a limb. He needed to finally try to get over Envy after all this time. He couldn't keep hanging on to fading hopes and dreams forever. If he wanted to live a normal life, he would have to forget about his first love. What more did he have to lose? He had already lost his heart along with Envy, there was no harm in having a little fun. It was becoming obvious that Noah liked him, so why not?

He approached the counter, leaning on it casually. Noah fidgeted and nervously grabbed a strand of her hair in her fingers. Edward thought it was cute.

"Are you busy after your shift today, Noah?" Edward asked, and that one simple question made her day.

"I'm not doing anything!" She squeaked, butterflies forming in her stomach rapidly. Had he finally noticed her? The way she looked at him, and the special treatment she gave to him every day?

"Well you are now." He jotted down his number and handed it to her, and she gave him hers. It was weird, he didn't feel nervous at all. Not like when he was with Envy before. This almost took no effort at all.

"Okay! See you after 4!" She literally skipped around the counter, cleaning up plates and cups as she went. She was truly ecstatic. She was going on a date with Edward Elric!

"Finish your peas, Envy." Izumi instructed after Envy acted like he was finished eating, and all that remained on his plate was a neat little pile of peas.

"I'd listen to her if I were you." Izumi's husband's deep grumbling voice sounded from the other end of the table. He was quite used to her bringing home stray children, but it was a little strange bringing home strange men. But, he trusted his wife's judgement.

"Don't wanna. They're nasty." He stuck his nose in the air, causing Izumi to roll her eyes.

"Fine. No dinner for you tomorrow." She folded her arms and stared hard at him.

"Told you." Sig piped up again, before going back to eating.

Envy gawked at her. "What do you mean no—wait a minute, who ever said I'm staying that long?"

"Do you have someplace else to go?" She pressed.

"Sort of." He looked down sheepishly. "I've been staying with my sister. We don't really stay in any one place very long." He wasn't sure he wanted to drag Lust into this, but knowing her she might like it. She was always rather fond of humans, besides the fact she wanted to be one.

"Well then it's settled. You'll have to have your sister stay here with you as well." Izumi nodded affirmatively.

"I don't know if that's such a good—" Envy started to protest.

"I won't hear of it. You're both staying with me and that's final."

Envy found himself once again, unable to say no. But he had to admit, sitting here eating dinner with Izumi and Sig felt oddly... homey. He thought maybe he could get used to this kind of thing.

After dinner, Envy opened up some to Izumi. The first thing he told her was about him and Edward, and the relationship they shared before Envy left. She was surprised, to say the least, but surprisingly non-judgmental. She knew they were related somehow, but she wasn't one to question love.

"So, when was the last time you saw Edward?" Izumi questioned Envy as she brought them both out some hot tea.

Envy took the tea and sipped it warily. He wasn't sure he'd had it before, but it wasn't bad. He might even like to have it again.

"It's been over a year." He murmured into his mug, eyes peering into it sadly.

"Hmm. It's been a while since I've seen him too. At least 5 months or so. We have been meaning to invite him over for some time." She held her mug, tapping the rim lightly with a finger as she pondered.

"I can't see him." Envy looked up at her with his mixed gold and purple eyes. "It's not possible."

"Anything's possible, dear."

Envy frowned. "He wouldn't recognize me even if he saw me now. I've changed. A lot." As he spoke, his voice got lower and lower until he was speaking in barely a whisper.

"Envy. I thought that name sounded familiar, but now I'm sure of it." Izumi's eyes flashed, and Envy looked worried for a moment. "Are you the same Envy the shape-shifting homunculus?"

He nodded slowly, cautiously, but was unable to stop talking. "I began changing a year ago. Right after I met him." Envy brushed gold hair out of his face and sniffed.

It all made sense now. Izumi held her hand over her middle briefly. She, too, had created a homunculus. She knew homunculus assumed the form of the human they were meant to be, but Envy was different. He didn't look like this at all before. This was his true form?

"What is your relation to the Elrics?" She questioned, trying to understand the situation better.

Envy grit his teeth. "I was the first son of Hohenheim." He spat out the name like a bad taste on his tongue.

"So, you are the half-brother, before Trisha." She held her chin in quiet contemplation. "I see."

Envy's eyes still blazed with anger even after all these years. "He's dead to me."

"Ah, so you share the same disdain as Edward, it seems." A small smile played at her lips despite Envy's glaring.

"The Pipsqueak can't know about me. Edward can't know. He would... never forgive me. I couldn't bear it." Envy looked away.

"I think you underestimate Edward. You should at least talk to him. I don't think you should just leave him hanging like that, it's not right." Izumi chastised him. He knew she was right, but he was a coward. He was simply afraid, but didn't want to admit it. He came up with every excuse as to why he couldn't be honest and show himself to Edward.

Envy bit his lip until it bled. Maybe she was right. Perhaps he needed to pay Edward a visit. If he did reject Envy, he would just go on living like he had been... without Edward. But, what if he still loved him? Was that even possible?

"Do you know where he is?" Envy asked quietly.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Izumi knew that Edward was fond of a particular coffee shop in Central, so she directed Envy there. He was nervous, more nervous than he'd ever been in his life as he made his way towards the spot Izumi had told him about.

He weaved and worked his way through the crowd of people, searching and searching for any sign of his Edward.

Finally, he came upon the shop Izumi had described. The robust aroma of coffee wafted through the door as it opened some distance away from him.

Two people emerged from the door, one of whom Envy instantly recognized. It was Edward! But who was he with?

"I've been looking forward to this all day!" Noah squealed happily as Edward took her hand in his, still holding the door open for her.

"Me too, Noah. It'll be good to get out for once." Edward smiled at her, eyes twinkling. For once, he wasn't thinking about Envy or feeling the pain grip at his heart like it had been for so long.

Envy stood, watching the two before him like it was some kind of bad dream. Edward had no idea who he was, of course. He was just another face in the crowd.

Had he gotten over Envy so quickly, just like that?

Envy's eyes slowly welled up and threatened to spill over as he watched Edward and Noah walk down the sidewalk in the other direction away from him, talking and holding hands. It just ripped him apart from end to end to witness. He had expected many things, but not this. Anything but this. How could he?

Then his eyes centered on Noah. He watched her long, brown hair wave back and forth over her back as she walked away with Edward. Her beautiful slender legs as she moved flawlessly, beautifully. He grit his teeth and he strained to not cry. His fists at his sides clenched and shook.

"I will fucking kill you."