Here's another chapter. Thanks to sewing life, SakuraSagura, Lady of the Storm and Ari Lupin for your replies. I really do enjoy them and hope you enjoy this post.

The Face of Home

Ed collapsed into the deep maroon cushions of the bench but winced with the soft thud his body made. "That's not very soft," he grumbled before settling into the seat as the wail of a whistle tore through the train car. Folding his hands behind his head, he gave a loud sigh and closed his eyes. "I could have stayed at Chalgrove for another week."

"It was nice," Alphonse said in his customarily tinny voice. His large armored body looked uncomfortable crammed into the bench seat facing his brother. He twisted to look out the window as the car jerked and the train began to move ever so slowly.

He watched people, young and old milling about the station and waving goodbye to friends and loved ones. A young woman with long, light brown hair raced along the platform, tears glistening in her eyes as she waved. She reminded him of…he started to raise his hand as if going to return the wave, like a promise that he would return safely.

Mom.

As the train picked up speed and the woman feel behind, he realized that she only reminded him of his mother and set his hand back down on his metal knee. "I think it will be good to go back to East City."

"It's not like we have a choice. I've got reports to deliver." Ed cracked an eye open and looked Al over. "You don't like traveling?"

Looking down at his metal and leather hands, Al shook his head. "Of course I do, Brother, but sometimes I like staying in one place." When he looked up, his height gave him the advantage of looking over most of the car and noticed a number of passengers staring at him. They always stared. At least at Eastern, they did not stare nearly as much as they used too. He liked that.

"Nothing is normal, but back at East City, there are familiar faces like Lieutenants Hawkeye and Havoc and I like Sergeant Fury, and there is the same bed to sleep in and places I enjoy going."

"Yeah, but when you are a dog of the military, you expect to be sent off on missions on short notice."

"I know."

Ed opened both of his eyes and looked at the hulking form. "I know you miss home, but there is nothing left for us back there."

"Auntie Pinako and Winry are back there."

Exhaling heavily, Ed sat up and stared at the figure across from him. "I know, Al. I know. I'm just not ready."

"I know."

The train station and signs of Chalgrove had disappeared into rolling hills and valleys speckled with little houses with smoke curling from fireplaces and black and white cattle milling in the pastures. Though Risembool was nearly five days south by train, the land was not so different from Al's memories of home.

Shifting his gaze back, the younger Elric noted the tense posture Ed had taken on with his arms folded across his chest and the skin between his brows furrowed. "You shouldn't let him get to you," Al said, sensing the unnamed source of Ed's irritation.

Mock laughter then Ed lowered his voice, mocking Colonel Mustang. "Stand up Ed so I can see you! Where'd he go?" he bellowed as he pretended to be looking around.

Al could not help himself and laughed at Ed's over exaggerated act. "It can't be that bad."

Huffing, Ed folded his arms across his chest. "Let's just get that part over with quickly."

"Yes, brother," came the patient agreement. Ed was much easier to get along with when he was not agitated.

Looking out the window, Al stared toward the bright yellow sun low in the late afternoon sky. They would reach East City by in about twenty-four hours. He was looking forward to it as the train raced over tracks stretching through the countryside like a ribbon and rattling his metal body with every bump and uneven bit of track they hit.

"Well what a surprise," a voice said shattering the boy's reverie.

Ed and Al looked up at the interloper and Ed broke into a wide grin. "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes."

The tall man sank to the bench that Ed was sitting on, forcing the blond haired youth to scoot closer to the sidewall. Sunlight reflected off his rectangular spectacles. "And here I thought it was going to be a quiet ride to East City."

"What brings you out this far?" Al asked happily, thrilled to see a familiar face.

"Oh, just some investigations, checking out some possible corruption a little farther north. Nothing all that exciting." He laughed.

Al caught the glow of suspicion in Ed's look before it quickly passed.

"Yeah, I thought since I'm this close to Eastern HQ, I might as well swing by and say hello."

"So the Colonel doesn't know you are coming?" Ed asked.

"Nope. I just love to see that look of surprise on Roy's face," Maes Hughes said with a mischievous grin. "Besides, do you know how long it's been since he's since pictures of Elicia? She's grown so much!" From inside his brown jacket, he pulled a handful of pictures of little Elicia. "Isn't she so cute!" he cooed thrusting the images toward Ed.

"It's good to see you haven't changed much," Ed said, examining the photos. "Still insane," he mumbled.

Tales of Hughes' family life gave way to general conversation and then quiet as the train continued its journey across the land. Along the distant horizon, where the evening sun dipped behind gently rising hills and tree lines blazed with the Sun God Leto's fury. The thought made Al briefly wonder how Rose was doing but the thought faded as the train whistle blew.

Al realized that he was not tired and the truth was that he rarely every was. His metal body did not suffer fatigue as a flesh one would. He stared down at his large hands, drawing them into fits and then relaxing them again. In some ways, this body was better, but it was still not his body.

Sometimes, when it was quiet, he found only a strange sense of unsettlement. It gave him time to think about all he had lost—all he and Ed had lost.

He looked up at his brother who was staring out the window too, staring at nothing in particular. He wondered what Ed was thinking about, but a small part of him already knew. Three years had passed and nothing had really changed. Although Al did not look at it so bleakly even though it was often easy to. He and Ed were still together and still searching and still traveling. And maybe, for all the bad things that had happened, it was okay as long as they continued on, though one day he did hope to get his body back.

It was selfish, he sometimes thought, but he just wanted to be normal again. He did not think it was too much to ask even if he knew this was punishment for trespassing on sacred ground. His brother pushed so hard, never giving the search for a way to set things right. He was confident that Ed would find a way and that he would be there to help.

"A penny for your thoughts," Hughes said softly as he stopped before the two facing seats. In each hand he held a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Nudging a cup toward Ed, he added, "These train rides can get cold at night, even in the East."

Ed smiled and Al did so inwardly. He liked the Lieutenant Colonel. He treated them for what they were, kids in a strange situation and not like tools of the State or as trouble as so many did when they realized the truth about them.

"It could be worse," Ed said with a laugh before he sipped the steaming drink. "We could be in the far north. I hear it is a cold, miserable place that no one deserves to be exiled to."

"It depends on whether you like snow or not," Hughes said, scooting back next to Ed. He stirred his drink. "You two look like you need a little downtime. Even Al looks like he needs some rest."

"I do?" It surprised the boy, but after a few moments, he realized that it might be true. His spirit though was dragging.

Between sips, Ed said, "I'll get Al polished up and he'll look as good as new."

"Maybe get some of the sand that's still in me cleaned out," the younger said as he shook an arm over the bit of empty seating. Fine grains of sand fell and bounced over the dark maroon upholstery. He looked back at Ed and urged, "And you'll get some sleep, right, Brother?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I don't think you will have to push him too hard," Hughes said with a chuckle. "The moment he hits a soft bed, he'll be out."

"I hardly consider those army issue bunks soft," Ed said.

"Anything can be soft when you are tired."

"That's true, I've fallen asleep against Al plenty of times."

"You know," Hughes said in a chipper tone, though keeping it soft so not to disturb the other quiet passengers in the car. "Sometimes I feel a twinge of jealousy when I look at you two."

"Why?" Al asked curiously, unsure what someone like Hughes with his wife and little girl could be jealous of.

"That you are brothers." He sipped his drink as the train car rocked as it passed over the tracks. "I don't have any brothers, but I have two older sisters. I think they are best friends, but the truth is I don't know them very well. They were both off and married by the time I was five. What I wouldn't have given to have a brother. I begged my parents but they thought I was nuts."

"Go figure," Ed teased.

Hughes smiled and elbowed Ed making their drinks slosh dangerously close to the cup rims. "It's just great the way you two have each other's backs and understand each other."

"But Lieutenant Colonel," Al said as he watched the two elbow each other and then try not to spill their hot drinks in their laps. "Not all family is blood. I don't know my father and he is related, but I think of Auntie Pinako and Winry as family and they are not. Aren't you and Colonel Mustang good friends? You remind me of me and Ed, you're like brothers."

Hughes just stared at Al for a moment and then chuckled. "I guess so."