[**A.N: Hey guys, I'm really sorry I can't post very often.. A lot is on my plate for these next few months until school is out, and I'd really appreciate if you all hold on I am ever so grateful to all of you who have read and enjoyed my chapters Thank you all, and have a good day]

Alphonse stood at the threshold of the cabin door and watched Edward and Colonel Roy Mustang disappear into the horizon, with tears rolling down his face. He reached out his hand, longing to lay flat the little hair sticking out of Edward's braid. "

"I'll miss you more than anyone in my life, Ed…" Alphonse whispered, chocking on his tears.

Alphonse refused to look away until he couldn't see Edwards hair bouncing up and down anymore.

"Roy? Do you think Al will be okay?" Edward said, turning around to take one last peek at his lover, and capturing a mental picture while holding on to his wedding ring that was chained around his neck.

"Honestly, Full Metal? I'm really not sure. Anything could happen while we are gone. But Al is a strong guy, I think he could handle himself for awhile."

Colonel Mustang sighed, then added an awkward smile at the thought of poor little Alphonse defending himself with a frying pan.

"Well, that doesn't stop me from worrying about him one bit. But until then… We can't be sure of anything." Edward glanced at the setting sun and wished he could watch it with Al, but he had a feeling Alphonse was sitting outside watching it too, thinking the same thing.

Alphonse sat up once the sun faded away into the night, and went back inside, shivering when the wind touched his bare feet. He lit a fire in the fireplace and began to cook some dinner. He was about to call Edward out of his study to ask him what he wanted, but he realized soon after, that Ed might not ever come back. And he may never be able to cook for two, nor would he want to, ever again. He sighed and cooked a small pot of stew, just enough for himself, and sat down at the dinner table. Al blew on the steaming spoonful of potatoes and broth, and took a sad bite.

After finishing his meal, Al slowly stood up from his seat and cleaned his bowl, putting it away quietly, so he could try to get some rest for the days ahead. Alphonse slowly walked into his bedroom and looked around for some sign of Edward. His favorite cologne, Alphonse sighed as he took a whiff of the bottle's opening and soon drifted into sleep, curled up with Edward's pillow, wishing it was him…

"Hey Ed! I'll be right back, I'm just going out to get some fresh evening air!"

"Mhmmm…"

Edward mumbled as he was intently journaling his findings on the philosopher's stone and its uses.

Alphonse pulled on his coat with the furry neck and pushed open the apartment door, stepping out quickly so the chilly air wouldn't make the apartment cold for Edward.

'I need some time to think… I should head to the outskirts of town, maybe then I could get some kind of inspiration…'

Alphonse set off into the cold night, hoping he could make it back home before it got too dark. He didn't want Edward to worry, but, when does Ed worry?

Al passed many tall apartment buildings, shops closing, people rushing home with their children close to them, and what he really didn't like was this man who he has spotted ever since he left. A tall, fair skinned man, who had green eyes was apparently following him. Alphonse didn't feel right, but he kept going deeper and deeper through the busy streets, to hopefully lose the strange man. Al closed his eyes and started walking faster through the people who blocked his way. He was thinking about going into a shop, but who knows when they would kick him out into the cold with that man stalking him. So Al just kept a brisk pace, but this mystery man began to walk faster…

Soon, once Alphonse was sure he lost the stalker, he leaned against a icy brick wall to catch his breath, but before he could exhale, a large gloved hand covered his mouth and a strong arm wrapped around his neck. Alphonse tried to scream, but he was muffled by the thick leather glove and the force the man was putting on his neck caused him to choke. He kicked and flailed around, trying to make some sort of noise, but the man's horrifying voice whispered in his ear,

"No one is gonna hear you, squirt. You're mine now…"

Alphonse's eyes widened in shock and utter terror at the man's words.

'This can't be happening to me! Edward! HELP!'

Alphonse thought to himself, as he fought until he passed out.

Al woke up in a dark and damp cellar, bleeding… Not from his head, but…

'Oh my God! No! No No No! Please let me be wrong! What happened to me!'

Alphonse screamed internally, for he was too weak to even move his lips. His backside hurt horribly, and he just wanted to go home…

"Eh, so the fag is awake? And who's this 'Edward' you were screaming about? Should I go get him too?"

Alphonse was hurt by the man's rude comments, but what really set him off was threatened harm to his older brother, Edward.

"YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH HIM! I WILL KILL YOU! Do whatever you want to me, just… Please… Don't hurt my brother…"

Alphonse squeaked out his last bit of voice he had left, and slumped over in pain.

"Awww, how 'heroic'! Little bro is gonna 'save' his big brudder! Fine, but you can't tell ANYONE what has happened here, or your brother is DEAD."

The cruel man spat, as he picked Al up by the hair and threw him onto the bed in the corner of the cellar.

'Oh God… So THIS is what happened! No! But I have to protect Edward… He is all I have...'

So the night went on, Alphonse wept silently as he was being violated by a complete stranger, until he woke up, for what seemed like centuries, outside of his apartment.

'Oh no! Edward! He must be worried sick! I have to clean myself up, quickly!'

Alphonse thought as he crept into the small apartment, and confirmed that Edward was in fact, not home. So this gave Al some alone time to bathe and hide any evidence of the events that happened the night before.

Al turned on the bath faucet, set it to scalding hot and slowly sat inside the tub. He squirmed a bit at the heat, but he knew this is what he had to do, to cleanse himself of the filth… Mentally and physically.

He scrubbed and scrubbed until his skin was red and fresh from the peeling of the outer layers. Al got out of the bathtub and dried himself off, wincing at the openness of his skin, feeling like he was being watched by that same horrible man. Alphonse then walked out of the bathroom, slightly crouching so no one could possibly see him, and quickly got dressed. He fixed his hair and went into Edward's study, trying to locate any bit of comfort he could find. But there was nothing. Al felt tears burn his cheeks and he bolted out of the room, although any form of movement was agonizing, he left the apartment to head to Capital, so he could somehow find Edward, so he didn't have to worry.

'How could I explain this away?'

[[A.N.: Thanks everybody! Like I said, please bear with me!]]