All you've forgotten
Rating: T
Summary: Al and Ed have been surviving on the street that is until they are picked up by the police and placed in a foster home, Al adapts quickly but can Ed forgive all those in the past who hurt him and move on?
Author Note: Major AU! No Alchemy but Ed does have automail. Also I do not own FMA, I wish I did but sadly… I don't.
Chapter ten
(Riza)
The first few days after Edward was released for the hospital were a dream, the older more nervous boy slept most of the time and was either too sleepy or just too out of it to fight me when it came time to administer the medications. But, now, two weeks after the emergency trip to the hospital, Edward was beginning to feel better and was returning back to his normal self. It all started yesterday when he and his younger sibling came down to breakfast, the brother's were squabbling and bickering in a good-hearted way as they seat themselves at the table. I carefully set the pot of pancakes on the table, listening half-heartedly to the argument, from which I can gather is about socks and whether you should sleep in them or not. After breakfast I called Edward back into the kitchen where I set the three pills and the inhalant on the table.
"What are these for?" he asks skeptically, eyeing the harmless appearing pills like they were going to jump up and start reciting lines from the movies.
"That's your medication Edward. You have to take the pills twice a day and the inhaler three times." I tell him simply and set down a glass of milk. The boy's already annoyed look turns even more so at the sight of the white liquid.
"Go on, take you medication." I prod, knowing he wasn't going to do it on his own.
"No." he says simply and turns, crossing his arms over his chest. I sigh, Alphonse warned me about how stubborn his older brother can be. This is the true battle of wills and I can use force if need be. I glare openly at the defiant child and watch as the golden eyes size me up.
"Listen Edward, I'm not going to fight you on this. At your age I'm sure you know you have to take your medications. Now take them." I practically order and watch the defiant shake of the head.
"Didn't your mother make you take your medicines?" I ask and I can see I hit a nerve with that comment. The teen quickly grabs the pills and pops them into his mouth, swallowing them dry and then takes a few inhales from the small inhaler, tossing it back on the table he stalks out of the room and up the stairs, his younger brother trailing after him in concern. I shake my head and return back to my cleaning.
Since that day I haven't had trouble with Edward and his medications, he takes them and that's the end of it. Although he seems to be avoiding me and every time he has to be near me he never looks at me. Such a stubborn defiant child but I can't fault him for being so. Judging by the reports from the prior homes they stayed in Edward has every reason to be aggressive toward adults.
"I wish there was some way to get through to him." I mutter and watch through the window as Edward and Alphonse help Alex with the wood chopping. Well, Alphonse is carrying the wood while Edward is walking about the yard, his lithe frame covered with a massive winter coat and feet covered by a decent set of winter boots. He gets winded easily and often has trouble breathing when making the transition from cold air to warm air so he's only allowed out for a short amount of time, but seems to enjoy those short trips outside. That's another thing I've noticed while the boys have been in my care, how jittery they get when they can't be outside. Perhaps that's from the time they spent living outdoors. I'm pulled from my musings by the door bell ringing and I quickly answer the door, welcoming the young woman into my home.
"Izumi, I'm so glad you could make it." I greet and the psychiatrist smiles warmly as she removes her own winter coat and mittens.
"No problem Riza, it's easier for me to make the trip than you having to haul those boys to my place for the sessions. Besides, I think they might feel better in a place their use too." She smiles and follows me into the kitchen where the boys and Alex are removing their coats and snow covered boots. Alphonse slows his mile a minute conversation with Alex and narrows his eyes as Izumi enters behind me, the memory of the night at the hospital obviously flashing through his mind. Edward notices the change in his brother and glares narrowly at the woman, obviously not remembering her from that night.
"Ah, Izumi nice to see you again." Alex greets and engaging Izumi in a brief conversation before excusing himself.
"Tea Izumi? Boys, sit at the table I got hot chocolate for you." Scrapping of chairs tells me they are seating themselves and I turn with the three mugs. Passing out the hot drinks I nod to the dark haired professional and leave the room, closing the half door behind me.
"Do you really think she's going to be able to get to the bottom of Edward's behavior?" Alex asks as I pass the bedrooms. I stop and smile at the large man before shrugging
"It's worth a try. I mean what harm can it do, right?" That was perhaps the wrong question to ask at that moment because from the kitchen comes a sharp cry and the crash of a shattering mug. Both Alex and I race into the room, finding a spilt cup on the floor, the dark stain spreading across the tile floor and a raging Edward backed into the corner, tears streaming down the young man's face. Izumi is standing, none threateningly at the table's edge, watching the boy and restraining the struggling younger from going to his distressed older brother.
"Riza, would you take Alphonse?" Izumi grounds out and I nod, quickly grabbing the smaller boy and Alex physically hauls the child from the room, taking his cries into the back of the house, away from his brother.
"How dare you." I hear the grounded words and turn to find two narrowed golden eyes starring at Izumi, who stands her ground.
"So, all those beatings you received, did they feel good?" Izumi presses and I can see the boy's shields breaking, crumbling before my eyes. Tears stream faster from his eyes and they press firmly shut, trying to block the memories.
"Do you think you deserved those beatings, those punishments? Were you a bad child Edward?" Izumi presses on and the hands of the boy wrap around his hair, eyes popping open in horror, seeing images only he can see.
"Edward." Izumi says his name and that's all is needed for the flood gates to open, his golden eyes opening wide and he starts to yell.
"YES! I DID deserve those beatings! I let her die! I let my own mother die! What kind of son am I! what kind of brother am I?! I deserved those, every single one!" he leaps foreword, trying to escape but I quickly grab him, holding onto his shuddering body. Casting a glace at Izumi I see her own eyes filled with tears but determination lining her face. Although we broke this wall, another one is looming in the future and that's the one that's going to be the hardest. But for the time being I hold the sobbing, shuddering aftermath of this wall.
Sorry about the short chapter last time, I hoped I made it up to you all. Please review. I have another fiction in the works, a Star Wars one but I won't post that one until this one is finished.