Inuchron returns triumphant with a Fic! Yayz!

Yeah, this is the chapter that's been giving me the most trouble, and it was supposed to be longer, but i seemed to reach a perfect place to stop (and i was too lazy to write the second half *nervous laugh*), also, i think i'm still suffering from my NaNo...I've got the plan for the second half all ready and waiting to be written, and i have a half day Thursday so hopefully...

Filling Up

The pitter patter of rain that still hurtled itself at the windows made a peaceful accompaniment to the sounds of the meal Roy was in the process of preparing. He'd heard the telltale creak of the stairs just a second before that alerted him to the fact that the two boys who were currently invading his home were creeping towards him, and one of them definitely hungry.

"Mmm…" Sighed Ed as he appeared at the kitchen doorway; nose poised in the air. Roy saw Alphonse a step behind him. "Something smells good." His hair was slightly disarrayed and stuck out like straw from the usually meticulous braid he wore and his eyes were bleary. Hmm… Roy thought. Al's words about Ed taking a nap were true then.

"Evening Fullmetal. Sleep well?" He asked, letting a small teasing tone enter the question. Ed gave him a half-hearted glare as he ghosted over to the stove where several pots were happily steaming.

A brave hand sneakily reached out to a pot that was leaking boiling water everywhere, but it was quickly batted away by Roy's wooden spoon. "It'll be ready in a second Ed, so go sit at the table." He said, resting a hand on the boy's metal shoulder and spinning him back towards the door.

Ed flinched, and Roy wondered if it was because the boy never usually allowed such contact or if it was pain from the shoulder he'd been rubbing all day. He saw Al send a glance at Ed, but the older boy waved it away and swaggered out the door. "Hurry up then, I'm starved!" Ed called.

"You're always hungry brother." Al chirped, and was rewarded with an indignant sounding huff.

Roy smiled as he watched Al steer Ed to the table and quickly followed them, serving up the large meal he'd prepared as they settled. Ed noticed the extra place he'd set out for Al, and Roy saw the boy give him a minute nod in approval.

"I hope you like lamb." Roy said as he laid one of the heaving plates of meat on the table. By the way Ed's golden eyes lit up like fireworks at the sight, Roy would have to guess 'yes'. "Brother likes anything." Al muttered, looking down at his brother.

"As long as it tastes good…but who knows what the Colonel's cooking is like?" Ed cautiously used his fork to prod one of the pieces of lamb, before deciding it looked safe enough and skewered it.

Roy served himself some meat and then sat down, casting sideways glances at the smaller blonde as he chewed. "Hmm, it passes the test this time." Ed finally said, then set about taking as much of the meat as he could before Al grabbed his fork.

"Leave some for the Colonel, brother!" Al said, soul fire eyes seeming to crinkle as a non-existent smile spread across the armours' face.

Ed seemed to see that as permission, and gleefully started to shovel down the meat like there was no tomorrow.

Slightly alarmed at the rate the lamb was disappearing, Roy quickly intervened before he was left to starve. "You should eat some vegetables too." He suggested, pointing to the mound of steaming rice and greens in the centre of the table.

Without asking his brother's permission, Al scooped up a few spoonfuls of each and deposited them on Ed's plate. "The Colonel's right Ed." Al said, waggling a finger as Ed glared. "It's not healthy to just eat meat." The older boy looked ready to argue his case for meat, when the tempting smell of the vegetables on his plate pulled his fork in their direction. Al shrugged his shoulders at Roy's amused gaze.

The rest of the meal was a fairly silent affair (apart from a fairly intense fork battle to see who got he last slice of lamb – Roy won) and Al beat Roy to cleaning up the dishes. "No, no! Let me do it Colonel!" The boy had cried eagerly, scooping up Ed's plate as the older boy finished.

"Come on Al, we're guests, we don't have to do anything." Ed smirked at Roy as he leant back, still sore over loosing the last piece and determined not to help. Once again, Al glared at his brother, and Ed reluctantly hefted himself to his feet. "Fine, I'll help too." He grumbled.

Ed collected the other plates, pointedly leaving Roy to do his own and marched to the sink, happily dumping the dirty dishes on the side. "There, we helped." Ed announced, smiling up at Al.

The suit of armour heaved a sigh and Roy chuckled. "Don't worry Alphonse, I doubt he could reach the taps anyway."

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SMALL HE COULD USE AN ANT AS A HORSE!?" Ed screamed, arms flailing. Al quickly caught hold of his brother as Roy snickered, allowing himself to laugh out loud at the rant.

Ed continued to growl even as Al tried to drag him out the door and push him upstairs. "Stop being so stubborn brother, the Colonel didn't say any of that." Al sighed. Roy silently slid to the kitchen doorway to watch.

"He implied it!" Ed retorted as he stumbled up the first few steps.

"No he didn't!" Al said, hands now placed on Ed's shoulders, forcing his brother to march up the stairs. "Now hurry up before I have to carry you."

That sent Ed scurrying up the stairs, and there was a happy laugh from Al as he followed. Roy smiled as well, and decided that now was the right time to get started on the dishes.

What he realised then, of course, was that Ed's rant had successfully managed to keep his brother's mind from offering to wash up. He groaned at the large pile of plates looming at him in his sink and silently cursed. That sneaky little…

Hmm...i have the feeling that the Roy from LOF has escaped into this story....don't worry, i'll get it back on track next chapter. Anyways, next chapter won't be too long in writing, but getting it put up is another question. We're still using my mum's laptop to get onto the internet, but our connections really bad at the mo (going off every 5 mins), so it'll be kinda hit and miss.

But anyways, review!! I need feedback to stop the fail returning!!

Loves Inuchron