Chapter Six: Indecision

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The morning came too slowly for Al, who lay awake from 6:00 on, and too soon for Ed, who was awakened by Al turning on their bedroom light at exactly 7:00 in the morning. He groaned and rolled over, pulling the covers up over his head. "Brother!" Al chirped, reaching under the covers to pull at his brothers left arm. Since Ed was lying on his stomach, his left arm was closer to Al, making this quite easy.

Edward mumbled something that sounded sort of like "Lemmealoneitstooearly," but wasn't quite coherent enough for Al to be certain. Taking another approach, Al took a good hold on the blanket, waited a moment for Ed's guard to drop, and the pulled the covers back before his brother could grab them.

"Al!" Ed whined, pulling the pillow over his head since the blanket was no longer available.

"Come on Brother, wake up!" Al pleaded excitedly. "We're going out today, remember?"

"I don't think they meant first thing in the morning..." Ed grumbled, but he rolled over anyway and sat up. He yawned widely and waited while Al tossed him a pair of pants and a sweater from the drawer. Ed blinked himself fully awake and glanced down at the clothes now strewn across his lap, a little surprised to see them there.

Al was already half-dressed when Ed finally slipped down off of his bed and started changing out of his pajamas. Al waited impatiently as Ed went into the bathroom to pull a brush through the front half of his hair (the back was still braided), and then the two boys made their way into the hall and down the stairs.

Ed paused at the bottom of the stairs and sniffed. "That smells good!" he said at the aroma of food that reached them.

"It's Saturday," said Al. "Glacia always makes bacon and eggs and hash-browns on Saturdays."

"Since when?" Ed blinked, frowning.

"Ooh yeah..." Al said, realization dawning on him. "You were sick, so you haven't eaten with us on a Saturday yet."

"What? So I've been stuck eating soup while you've been gorging yourself on the good stuff?"

Al took a step back, grinning sheepishly. "Well... the doctor said that you shouldn't eat the richer foods until you were better, so..."

"What!" Ed demanded. "Well the next time he stops by, I'll have to remember to thank him for considering my health, and then pound him into oblivion!"

"Brother..." Al dropped his head in defeat. Sometimes... there could be no reasoning with Ed - even for Al. "I guess it's a good thing I woke you up early," he said with a smile. "Or else you'd end up missing it again."

-----

"Morning boys," said Maes as he came from the direction of the living room. He patted Al on the head, and simply smiled and nodded a greeting to Ed, who had stepped back to prevent being touched. "Perfect timing," he said. "I think breakfast is almost ready."

In the kitchen, Glacia was indeed standing at the stove, and Maria was setting the table. Within moments both boys were seated with heaping plates in front of them. Just the smell had Ed's mouth watering. "Well," said Glacia, taking her own seat. "Dig in."

Ed wolfed down his breakfast as if he'd never eaten before in his life. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd eaten food this good. Glacia and Maria exchanged glances across the table, but Maes just laughed. "So, Ed," he said. "Are you excited to go shopping today?"

"What makes you think that?" Ed replied through a mouthful of bacon.

"The fact that you got up and came down this morning," he replied.

"Al wants to go," said Ed boredly. "I don't really care."

"Well I think it's great," said Glacia with a smile. "We can get you boys some clothes that fit better." Al smiled back happily and Ed returned his attention to his plate. When they finished eating, Ed and Al both remained sitting at the table, fidgeting.

"Hm," said Maes thoughtfully. "The mall won't open until 10:00 today... what should we do until then?"

"Let's play a board-game," suggested Al.

"A board--game, huh?" said Maes. "I think I could do that. Would you ladies like to play?"

"Let me tidy up these dishes first," said Glacia with a smile. Ed was surprised. He had expected them to make excuses - say that they were to busy - not to actually agree to play with them.

"Great," said Maes. "Lets go pick a game, then."

"Wash up first," said Glacia, referring to all three of the 'boys.' Maes just grinned and pushed in his chair.

"Yes dear..."

-----

Ed stood back and watched as Al and Maes looked through the stack of board-games. They commented back and forth to each other, and eventually emerged with two games. "Which one do you like better?" Maes asked Ed.

"I don't care," replied the blonde.

Al gave his brother a puppy-eyed look. With a sigh, Ed pointed to the game on the left. "UNO, huh?" asked Maes curiously. He set the other game down and headed to the door with Al in tow.

"What's wrong brother?" Al asked. Maes paused in the hallway to wait.

"I don't think I wanna play," said Ed.

Al returned to his brothers side. "Come on brother," he pleaded softly. "You'll have fun. You like card-games, remember?"

"Yeah... I remember." Al moved behind his brother and pushed him toward the door. "Alright already!" he said as Al continued to push him out the door and down the hall. "I'm going." Maes just smiled and followed them down the stairs.

-----

The kitchen table was cleared, and all five of them sat around it, waiting while Maria dealt out the cards. "Do you know how to play?" she asked. Ef didn't reply, but Al shook his head, so she explained the rules quickly. Then they got started with the actual game. They played several rounds, and much to everyone's surprise, Ed won almost every one of them.

After almost an hour, Hughes asked, "what other games are you good at, Ed?"

Ed answered without really thinking. If he had been paying attention, he probably would have ignored the question, or shrugged, but as it was he was distracted with the game and answered; "Rummy and Poker. And Jackass and Cheat." Glacia and Maria both looked up quickly at the use of his profanity, but they let it slide, since apparently it was the name of a game.

Maes had a dangerous glint in his eye, however, and upon noticing this Glacia rolled her eyes and Maria sighed. They knew what was coming now.

"So you like Poker, huh?" he asked.

"I said I can play," corrected Ed. "I didn't say I liked it."

"Brother's good at chess, too," said Al. "And checkers."

Glacia slapped a hand to her forehead and Maria pushed her chair back ever-so-slightly. "Chess too, huh?" Maes asked, that strange glint in his eyes seeming to double. Al was a little frightened by it, but Ed stared him straight in the eye without backing down.

"I challenge you to a chess match!" said Maes finally.

Ed was silent. A moment ticked by and no one moved or spoke, all eyes on Ed. Finally he answered. "Do you have a chess board?" he asked.

'Oh no...' Glacia and Maria both groaned inwardly. Maes produced the board as if from thin air, and grinned evilly.

"Let's see how you stand up against me!" he said.

"Whatever," Ed replied. "I'm black."

"Suit yourself," said Maes. The two of them set up their fields in silence, and everyone else watched quietly. Finally they were ready.

Al knew it had been over a year since his brother had played chess. If it were him, he would have made sure everyone knew that, but Ed rarely made excuses. 'If I win I win. If I lose, I lose.' That's what Edward had told him once. And with the silent moving of a pon, the game began.

There were three things that all three of the adults noticed right away about Ed's style of playing. One; he worked in complete silence. Two; he was quick to calculate and strategize. And three; he was extremely good at the game.

"Check," he said for the second time," and Maes groaned inwardly as he sought a way to protect his king again. Glacia and Maria were both snickering in the background. Hopefully this would take him down a notch on the egotistical pedestal he'd acquired in playing chess.

"Hah!" he said, moving another of his pieces. "Beat that!"

"Checkmate."

"Wha..?" Maes jaw dropped. "No way! I am the champion! I am the number one chess-player in my entire department! I-"

"Just lost," Edward interrupted. Al grinned.

"I told you my brother was good," he said happily.

Hughes smirked. "Well it looks like I underestimated your skill. Good game, Edward Elric. We'll have to play again sometime."

"Alright, you two," said Glacia. "I hate to break up your post-game conversation, but it's almost 9:30. We should probably get ready to go."

"Ah that's right," said Maria. "And I needed to ask you guys what sort of education you've had?"

"We can read and write, if that's what you mean," replied Edward in a bored tone. Maria grinned sheepishly.

"Well what grade should you be in?"

"I don't know. We were home-schooled sometimes," Ed answered. "Off and on."

"Okay... well I guess we'll have a bit of catching up to do then. But that's all I needed to know. Come on, let's get our stuff together and get going." Glacia and Maes were already at the entryway.

"I'll go start the car," said Maes, and he headed out the door.

"Alphonse, do you have to go to the bathroom?" asked Glacia. "You should try now, before we leave." He nodded and headed off down the hall. "You too, Ed," she said, and he rolled his eyes but headed up the stairs anyway. When they returned, the two boys pulled on their shoes and coats. Al, who had gone shopping a few times, had new shoes but Ed slipped into his old worn-out runners without complaint. They felt weird now... he hadn't worn them since that night.

As the boys stepped out into the snow, the two women in tow, Ed felt his heart pound at the familiar rush of fresh air and freedom. The large yard glittered with untouched snow. He looked around. He hadn't realized that they were this far outside the city, but beyond the yard's fence he could see big open fields of white. "Come on you guys," called Maes from the car. The boys climbed in the back with Maria, and Al placed himself between her and Ed. Maria realized that it had been intentional, although whether it was to protect his brother in the close proximity or to protect them from him, she couldn't tell.

Ed was nervous about going to the mall - there were so many strangers there. Maes on the other hand was just as nervous about taking him there. It had been about three weeks since the two had arrived, and Ed hadn't left the house in all that time. This would be the first real outing with him, and they had no idea what to expect.

They drove down the driveway and turned right. After a few minutes Al pointed to a house on their right. "That's doctor Rockbell's house," he said. "He lives really close." Ed looked out the window at the house. There was a swing-set in the yard, although it was covered with snow. The front gate was open, but no one was outside. They passed the house, and Ed sighed, returning his gaze to the scenery that passed by him. There was an awful lot of white.

It took another ten minutes to reach the city, and quite soon they found themselves pulling into a parking stall of the large mall.

"Have you ever been here, Ed?" asked Glacia from the seat in front of him.

"No," he replied. He was looking out the window at all of the cars in the parkade. Maes cast one more glance at Ed in the rearview mirror, and turned off the car.

-----

The mall was not as busy as it could be, but still busy enough to have a small crowd. As they walked along the enormous place, Al took Glacia's hand and then Maes' in his other hand. He grinned, walking between them, and the couple exchanged a smile over his head. Ed walked a few steps behind with Maria next to him, his eyes flicking over the stores they passed.

"Let's head down to Walmart first," suggested Glacia. "And while we're there, we can get some new shoes for Ed." She smiled back at him softly, but he didn't return the gesture. Instead he lowered his eyes to the floor.

These people... he had grown accustomed to their company somehow or another, but he still didn't understand them. And they just kept on confusing him even more with their displays of kindness and caring. Ed looked up at his brother, walking between Maes and Glacia, grinning and laughing and perfectly content to stay that way.

Ed winced at an inner pain that surfaced from his heart and rose to form a knot in his throat. It wasn't fair - didn't they realize that? It wasn't fair to Al... to treat him like their own child for a little while. Just long enough for him to come to love them - and then they'd be shipped off to another 'home' and a new 'family.' This was only a temporary placement, after all. And though Ed knew that, watching his brother with them... he just couldn't bring himself to remind Al of that.

He looked from his brother to Maes, who was looking down at Al with a smile, talking. Then he looked to Glacia... calm and quiet, with gentle hands. She had a mother's hands. One day, she would probably make a wonderful mother. But not to them. He returned his gaze to the floor, swallowing the lump.

"Ed? Is something wrong?" Maria asked from where she walked next to him.

"No," he replied, as sharply as usual.

-----

They entered the large store and headed down one of the many isles. It was full of shoes, and Ed wrinkled his nose at the sharp scent of leather that was caked onto the whole place.

"Well, take a look around and see if there are any you like," said Maes to Edward. Ed glanced around, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

"I don't care," he replied, lapsing back into his old habit. Whenever there were too many choices in front of him, he would pretend he didn't care so that someone else would just decide. And with so many pairs of shoes staring down at him, he had no idea where to even begin. Luckily for him, Maes did.

"Al-righty then," he said, walking down the isle with a hand on his chin thoughtfully. "This should be fun."

20 minutes (and about a quadrillion pairs of tried-on shoes) later, they had finally settled on a pair. Al had to hold Ed back the first time Maes had tried to touch his foot - Ed hated being touched by anyone other than his brother - but after the initial outburst he allowed them to try shoes on him, sitting boredly on a chair. He decided about five minutes in, that he'd been right the first time; he really didn't care about shoes.

The pair they eventually settled on were navy and black runners. Glacia also had them choose a pair of winter boots. That finally over with, Ed found himself being dragged along to the clothes section by Al.

Lucky for them, Glacia seemed to have some idea of what they needed. She wordlessly put socks and underwear into the buggy she was pushing as she led them to the boys section. "These are nice," she said to Ed, pointing to a pair of cargo-pants. "Don't you think?" Ed shrugged. "Well we can try them, at least, and see what you think."

It was Maes' turn to stand back and watch, and he and Maria both did just that. They moved through the pants, onto the shirts and sweaters, and eventually found themselves at the change-rooms. Ed and Al both had a lot of things to try on by that point, and she ushered them into a change room with a few sets of clothes each.

"And make sure you come and show me," called Glacia cheerfully. Al called back an 'okay,' and Ed rolled his eyes. He then got down to trying on the first set she had selected. Al's clothes had a bit more variety - he didn't mind short-sleeved clothes or shorter pants. Ed on the other hand, having an automail arm and leg, never went out in public without long sleeves and long pants if he could help it. Even at the house he didn't like to.

After about five minutes the boys emerged to show Glacia the first set of clothes, and after almost an hour they collapsed on the floor at her feet.

"Please no more," said Ed. "Any of those are fine, really." The three adults all laughed. It was probably the first time any of them had heard Ed say 'please' before.

"Don't worry," said glacia, smiling. "We're done here." Both boys sighed in relief and got up to follow them away from the change-rooms. Ed was quite certain if he never saw one again, he would be much better off. His heart sank again as they came to an isle with winter coats and snow-pants.

'You've got to be kidding...' he thought. This time when Maes asked which ones he like, Ed actually began to look through the coats himself. Maes thought that he had finally succeeded in getting Ed interested in something. Ed thought that unless he actually picked something, they might spend another hour here.

"What about this one?" asked Ed, holding up a red and black coat with black snow-pants.

"You like it?" asked Maes. Ed nodded. "Great. That's fine. Have you found anything you like, Al?" he asked, turning to the younger brother. Al was looking between two sets, a look of deep concentration on his face. At last he decided on the dark blue coat with black trim. The snow-pants were black with blue trim.

"Alright," said Maes. "That went by rather quickly, wouldn't you say?" Ed didn't reply, but fixed him with a 'look,' and Al could only manage a small smile. Maria just shook her head from where she stood behind Maes. They waited there a few minutes for Glacia to return. She had left at some point with the buggy. Ed assumed it was to return some of the clothes, but when she did return, her cart looked no less full.

'She's not actually going to buy ALL of it, is she?' he thought.

His suspicions were confirmed when they went through the till. Ed and Al sat down on a bench to wait while Glacia went through. Maes and Maria stood nearby, conversing lightly.

"They're like our watch-dogs," Ed stated, folding his arms over his chest and looking at the two adults. Al followed his gaze.

"They're worried that we're going to run?" asked Al.

"Probably. Who knows what goes through their heads," Ed replied with a sigh.

After a moment of silence, Al spoke again. "I think that they're really nice. You should give them a chance, brother."

Ed looked at the two thoughtfully and then sighed, smiling grimly. "Sorry Al," he said softly. "I'm all out of chances to give."

Al sighed. "Brother..."

"Never mind," Ed said quickly, though not harshly. "Do what you want, Al." He sighed again and put his hands behind his head, leaning back into the bench and staring up at the ceiling to avoid his brothers eyes. "If you want to stay here, then we'll stay."

"You don't want to run again?" asked Al hopefully.

"Not yet." Al's face fell. "I'll stay as long as they let me. But when we end up being shipped off again, I'm outta here." Al leaned back against the bench as well. Whenever Ed ran, Al went along for the ride. Even though he said 'I' and 'me,' it really meant 'us' and 'we.' It was an unspoken pact of brothers - they would always stay together. Where one went, the other would follow.

Neither of them said anything more on the matter. In fact, all thoughts of it were pushed aside at the mention of lunch. "Where should we eat?" asked Maes thoughtfully. "Any ideas, Ed?" There was no reply.

"He likes fries and gravy," Al piped up with a smile.

Glacia smiled. "Well there are a few good places for that," she said.

-----

The drive home was surprisingly quiet. It was almost 6:00, and the shorter days meant that it was already getting dark. After lunch they had stopped for a few random things, and eventually they'd gone to the toy store for a while. Glacia and Maes were slightly surprised that Ed showed absolutely no interest in the toys. Al on the other hand had been in his glory looking at everything. Eventually, after Al had picked a toy and Ed had lapsed back into his silence, Maria had suggested they get Ed a new puzzle. She was the only one not surprised about his disinterest in the toys - her memory flashing back to a certain incident with a toy dolphin.

The group had returned to the car listening to the sound of Al's excited chatter. Once they started driving however, he slowly quieted down. Having partially tuned him out, Maes was surprised when he realized about halfway home, that Al wasn't talking anymore. He looked in his rearview mirror and smiled. Both boys were sleeping - Al leaning on Ed and Ed leaning on the window.

"Looks like we tired them out," he said with a laugh. "Thanks for your help today, Maria," he added.

"It was no problem," she replied from the back.

"Were you planning on staying for Christmas, or are you going to go visit your family?" asked Glacia.

"Oh... I'm not sure. But it sounds like my parents might be going away for the holidays. If they do go, then I guess I'll have to stay."

"It'll be nice if you do," said Maes. "It's been a long time since we've had a nice family Christmas, hasn't it Glacia?"

"Yeah," she replied. "It'll be nice with the boys."

Ed listened quietly as the adults talked, keeping his eyes closed. 'Christmas,' he thought. He'd been trying to forget that it was that time of the year again. 'I don't like Christmas.'

-----

'Merry Christmas mommy!"

"Oh wow! Did you boys make this?" The sounds of laughter.

"Do you like it?"

"It's a beautiful gift... thank-you..."

-----

Ed opened his eyes as they pulled into the driveway. He gently shook Al awake as well. The two of them managed to stay up until 8:00, but they made no complaint when they were sent to bed early. They were both exhausted.

The following morning it was Ed who woke first. He lay in bed for a while, trying to fall back to sleep, but eventually he got bored and got up. When he flicked the bedroom lights on dim, he noticed that glacia had laid out several large piles of clothes, all neatly folded, on the empty shelf by the door. As well as a bunch of new socks and underwear.

With a sigh Ed chose a pair of jeans and a sweater and began to change. After pulling on the jeans he paused, holding both arms in front of him and studying them. He noticed that his real arm was a bit longer than the automail one. Not much - only a centimeter or so - but enough to show that he would need to get it adjusted soon.

"Brother?" asked Al sleepily.

"Hm?" Ed replied, turning to look toward Al's bed. The younger boy yawned and looked at Ed."

"Never mind," he said, climbing out of bed and walking over. Ed shrugged and pulled the sweater over his head. "Hey!" said Al suddenly, making Ed jump.

"What?" he asked for the second time in 30 seconds.

"I just remembered; we got snow stuff yesterday," said Al excitedly. "We can play outside!"

"Guess so..." said Ed thoughtfully. A smirk crossed his boyish features suddenly. "Yeah... hurry up Al." The rest of the house was asleep still as the two tip-toed down the hall and stairs. Al, who knew the house much better, was easily able to produce their snowsuits and winter boots from a closet near the entry. They silently pulled them on, followed by the hats and mittens that Glacia had gotten them. Then, as quietly as possible, Ed pulled open the front door and they stepped out into the snow.

The door closed with a light click, and they stood on the step looking around at the white world. Al stood still, in a slight daze as his mind raced with all of the things they could do in the snow. Ed took advantage of the opportunity to charge at him, and they both toppled off the steps and into a large bank of snow.

"That's it brother - now it's war!"

-----

Glacia, Maes and Maria watched through the kitchen window as the two boys had what appeared to be a very intense snowball fight - that more often than not involved more fighting than snow. They'd been out there a while before any of the adults had gotten up, and they didn't look like they were ready to come in any time soon. The adults were sitting at the table, sipping at their morning coffee.

"They seem full of energy today, don't they?" Maria commented as Al collided with Edward and the two wrestled in the snow for a minute before Ed broke loose and hurled another wad of snow at his brother. Al grabbed his neck and swung around behind him, but Ed was too fast and rolled out of the way. Their laughter and shouts could be heard through the window, and for a while the three of them watched the boys play in silence.

After a while Maes glanced at Glacia. She was watching the boys with a peaceful smile on her face. He sighed, and she turned to meet his gaze. "I know what you're thinking," he said. "And I just don't know what to think right now, Glacia," he said.

His wife didn't reply, but she stood and moved to the stove to put on another pot of hot water. "What do you want me to say?" he asked, and Maria looked between the couple, suddenly feeling very out of place. This was probably not an argument she needed to hear. But...

"Give me one good reason we shouldn't keep them," Glacia said finally.

"I know... I know we talked about adoption, but I just don't know if I'm ready to be a parent yet," he said at last. "And besides, we've hardly had them for a month. You can't base the rest of their lives on a month. Things might not work out as well as we hope." He sighed. "I know you're attached to Al, but... Edward..."

"Maes... we can't send them away," she said. Her voice was soft, but certain. "Look at them. They've been through so much already. We can't send them back to that life. Think of Al - think of Edward."

"I am thinking of them," said Hughes. "But what if this isn't what Ed wants?"

"Ed doesn't know what he wants anymore," she said. "He's too busy trying to survive in this world to be a child. And if we keep them here, he can have that chance again - no more worries and no more uncertainties."

Maes lowered his head into his hands. "And what about us?" he asked softly. "What if I don't have what it takes to be a father-figure? It's not like I really have much experience." Glacia smiled at him softly.

"What do you think, Maria?"

Maria jumped, surprised that she was asking her. "It's... it's really not my place to say anything," she stammered.

"Of course it is," said Maes, looking up at her. "You're like family. And besides, we couldn't have made it this far along with them if it weren't for you. So what do you think?"

Maria could feel both pairs of eyes on her. "Well... I think... that if you send them back now, it would confirm all of Ed's doubts and fears. And I also think, Maes, that you..." She trailed off, unable to find the words.

"What?" he asked, slightly worried that he'd done something wrong.

"Watching you with then - especially Al," she said slowly. "It's clear that whether or not you think you're ready to be a father... you've already got everything it takes." Maes blinked away tears from his eyes and looked back out at the boys. He stayed that way for a minute, and then brought his hands up to rub at his face.

"Let me think it over a little more," he said at last. "We have them for the holidays. We still have a bit of time to decide."

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END

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Authors Note: First of all, a disclaimer to Walmart. Oh, and by the way, it used to be connected to malls before it got rich enough to build it's own buildings...

I think this chapter was one of the longer ones so far, hehe. Sorry to end it on a less happy note. The next chapter is pretty short, so I should have it up pretty quick. Almost done... just another four chapters to go! Thank you for reading guys, and please review! Let me know what you like, what you don't like, and whatever else you feel like saying!

Mistress of Darkness