I had a lot of fun writing this part:D Had no idea what intro I wanted to do, but think this was the best way of Alex and Ed meeting:) Much fluff and corn.

'That was...exhausting…' Roy thought to himself as he stood at the bottom of the stoop that lead to his quaint town-house. It was way past midnight so he was sure Ed would be asleep by now. He'd have to do the introduction tomorrow. In the meantime, Alex could sleep with him. Lacking his usual formal posture, he slumped his shoulders and bent his knees. He felt a small lick and a cold nose press against his hand that contained a leash. Alex, the dog Roy had just purchased for Edward, was staring deep into his tired eyes. "I don't think anyones looked at me with such sympathy before…" he smirked, giving her a pat on the head.

"Now…" he began as he looked up the steps, pulling his brow together and his lips tight "...how is this going to go."

Roy wasn't worried about how well the dog could perform, he'd spent the day with Alex and she was more intelligent than most of the higher ups in the military. Well, the ones he didn't like.

It was Ed he was worried about. Roy had mentioned a guide dog before, but Edward was adamant in his refusal to use such a 'crutch'. It took almost a year to get him to use the stick!

But Roy really did think this was different. He knew if Edward just got to know Alex, and well, had a friend during the day, he might be able to broaden his small, anxious world. Ed had cut himself off from most people, probably because he felt that no one trusted his judgement about his brother. Roy knew he was hurt and angry at people's reactions to his constant search, including Roy's own opinion...but as much as the blind boy denied it, he needed people, he needed friends. He had people who cared deeply about him that could no longer get close to his boarded up psyche. To his own surprise, Roy cared so much about his former subordinate's mental state. So much so, he never thought he would spend hours with tons of dogs, be goaded and berated and made to pick up dog poop all for some blind kid. 'It had been a weird day'.

Roy took his tentative steps up the stoop and unlocked the door as silently as he could. He made his way down the hall and up the stairs, not bothering to get any food, he was too tired and Alex had been fed before she left, just incase she was too nervous to eat in her new home. The black coated dog plodded along after Roy, up the stairs, sniffing the air as if she had already spotted Edward, her new owner. Roy stopped by his own bedroom and looked back, realising he could no longer hear the thump of paw pads after him. She had stopped directly in front of Edward's open bedroom door. Staring in silently, she took a tentative paw forward as if to go in and investigate the curiously light breathing.

"Alex…!" Roy whispered desperately trying not to wake Edward. Immediately she snapped out of her previous engagement and continued on to Roy's room. Breathing a sigh of relief, Roy brought her into his bedroom. He was so tired he couldn't even bother taking off anything but his shoes. With one swoop he flopped onto his bed and might have fallen asleep just then if it wasn't for Alex. Only her eyes and half her nose were visible from the opposite side of the bedside. "Come on, up!" Roy gestured, banging the bed with his left hand lazily while closing his eyes. Alex whined and leapt up happily on the bed. Taking a moment to get settled she began turning in circles before choosing the perfect sleeping spot. Finally flopping down and closing her eyes instantly. As tired as Roy was, his mind began whirring after today's events.

Ever since taking Edward in two years ago, he almost felt like he had taken on a son. He was his father on paper, but Ed had never called him by anything but Roy...or Colonel Bastard.

Even if he could tell Edward did like his company, he was still a seventeen year old boy. Roy missed the easy child stages and just got one big, angry, hormone of a teenager. Not only that, but a disabled boy who has had an extremely hard life. He wanted Edward to be normal, going on dates and finding out what he really wanted out of life. Roy felt pathetic and helpless, but Alex was one thing he had felt confident about.

But it was hard, really, really hard.

Alex let out a deep sigh that brought Roy back to the present. There was such a calming feeling about her presence. And with that, his lids became too heavy to keep open and he drifted off to sleep.

Edward woke to the sound of the milkman placing fresh bottles on their front door. '4am…'

A handy way of telling the time. Though Ed was grateful this time for the rude awakening. He had been having a pretty intense nightmare that left his bed soaked in sweat. Even though he couldn't see, his mind's vision was still incredibly vivid and recurring.

Early morning, 2 years ago, it always starts with him sitting opposite his armoured, young brother on the train. Alphonse is explaining something enthusiastically, but for the life of Ed he cannot make out what he is saying, it all just comes out as nonsense. As he stares at his brother, in the corner of his eye out the window, a blast is seen, but he cannot move his head...all he can do is stare at his younger brother as he breaks apart into a million different pieces, useless to do anything. It was a terrifying nightmare.

Ed took a deep, calming breath and decided he couldn't sleep anymore and was hungry. He felt for his walking stick by the bed, sitting up and swinging his stiff metal leg out of the bed. It had been getting more and more rigid over the last couple months, but he was too stubborn, well, more afraid, to call Winry for help. It might have been more appropriate to say if she even would help.

He stood up slowly and made his way to the bedroom door and down the hallway. Passing Roy's bedroom he could hear the Colonel was home, snoring away as usual. But...there was another snore...lighter than Roy's but definitely there. It took a minute to register in Ed's tired mind. 'He brought his date back!?' He shuddered and was glad he was asleep when they'd arrived. There was no way he wanted that image in his head. 'Gross…'

With a sickly expression, Ed made his way downstairs to the kitchen.

Grabbing a couple crackers from the pantry Ed turned around and made his way back through the living room with a plate full, shoving one into his mouth. He took a couple steps into the living room, his feet touching the soft carpet below.

Stopping mid chew, all of a sudden, he felt like he was being watched.

Amidst the darkness, there was a slight and dainty breath coming from the opposite side of the room. "W-who's there? Mustang? Is that you?..." Ed didn't want to sound panicky but when you can't see, it is extremely freaky not knowing who could be staring at you at four in the morning.

He put on a more forward and strong voice, not letting the person know they were intimidating him. "Whoever you are, you better reveal yourself or I'll fucking punch your lights out!" Naturally going to transmute his arm into a weapon. It's not like he could use alchemy anymore with being blind, but he couldn't help the instinct.

He heard a small whine, and then a couple foot steps forward. 'Was there more than one person? No...those footsteps don't sound human' Ed bent his knees in anticipation, the automail creaking with protest. 'No beast is gonna take me!' That's it, he'll have to make a run for it, through the kitchen door and out the back garden. 'Where then you blind idiot!?' Not thinking very clearly in this time of panic. 'It doesn't matter, on three, one...two...th-'

"WOOF!"

Ed stopped mid running pose and slowly turned back to the sound. "...woof?"

The noise plodded over to him, panting and whining in concern. He heard a thick tail whapping against the side of the couch as it came towards him. Eventually standing right in front of him, were the smells and sounds of a friendly dog. Ed's face went red, pretty embarrassed and stupid feeling.

"W-where did you come from?" Edward squatted down to it's head height and gingerly went to touch the top of the mysterious dog's head. In response, the dog licked his hand and snuffled his arm as if asking for more rubs, which Ed obliged to. "Did Mustang find you? Are you lost?"

He felt for a dog tag, and found a cold, circle on it's collar. He felt the engravement that contained four letters. A.L.E.X. 'Alex…' Ed went rigid, pain stricken across his face.

But then a small, sad smile appeared, barely noticeable.

"So, your name's Al eh?" He continued stroking the dog's ears. It was sad and painfully funny at the same time. "It's a great name you got there buddy..." Ed couldn't help but laugh, a couple tears crowning on his eyes.

As if knowing, Alex put her paw on his knee and licked the tear that had escaped his eyes and made it down Ed's cheek. Though, this only caused more to come. The next moment Ed didn't even notice he had placed his arms around the dog's torso, hugging Alex softly and stroking her back. She was so calm, so placid, it made Ed shamelessly feel like a child clutching on to his mother for comfort.

After a couple minutes of understanding silence between them, Edward released her from his embrace. Slightly embarrassed by his actions he gave the dog a pat on the head and stood up awkwardly. "This way, that couch is way to uncomfortable for you" He took his stick and started to make his way back up to his bedroom, thinking Alex would follow. But she wasn't following, she was heeling. Ed could feel her press against the side of his leg, every step he took, she synchronized her paws to his feet. When he stopped, she stopped. Pausing for a moment, Ed hooked his finger around her loose collar. When he did this, Alex began leading Edward up the stairs and into his bedroom. 'How does….' There were too many things that happened tonight, and coming down from the adrenaline, he decided these questions could wait til tomorrow.

'Al…'