Ch 3

ARRGG! I'm sorry! I didn't have the time to update… I'll hope you'll forgive me.

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA! Aha! You didn't guess?

- "We are leaving! As far as we can!" Edward said.

- "But Brother? And the adoption?" Al asked.

- "We don't need that crap, Al." Ed replied. "We already know how to live by ourselves."

Edward began to prepare his suitcase. He was grabbing everything he could – it wasn't much – for him and Alphonse.

The youngest looked at him blankly. Then, the look darkened. It was easy to see the determination in Al's eyes.

- "You know what?" He confidently said. "I'm not going!"

Ed was stunned. For the first time of his life, Al had said "no" to him. It was his turn to look blankly at his brother.

- "But Al…"

- "No, I won't leave! For the first time in years, we have the opportunity to regain a new family. So, please, just give them a chance, they deserve it."

- "They deserve it, you say? They beat us, Al! They didn't have the right!"

Al gave him a look, and said:

- "Sincerely bro! Are you nuts? This wasn't a beating, they gave us a few smacks on the butt, that's all! And personally, it will make me think twice before doing something so stupid. So please, brother, if you want my happiness, let's try this new experience."

Edward looked at his pleading sibling, and saw hope in his eyes.

- "All right… You won." Ed said.

And without another word, Ed lay down on his bed. A few minutes later, a light snore filled the room. Alphonse sighed and went finally to sleep.

...............................................................................................................................................................................

In the middle of the night, the dormitory door opened, revealing a stressed Edward. The "small" figure moved quickly in the shadows and disappeared in the dark.

...............................................................................................................................................................................

Alphonse opened his eyes. It was morning and brilliant white light was coming through the windows. But something wasn't right. Al could sense it. All becomes clear when he found a letter on Ed's empty bed. Frightened, Al opened it and began to read.

................................................................................................................................................................................

A few minutes later, a frantic and barely dressed Al was standing in the general's office. The boy slammed a paper on the desk of a very surprised Roy Mustang.

- "Al? You know I hate paperwork, don't you? He tried to joke.

But when he saw the urgency painted on Al's face, he quickly grabbed the letter and began to read it aloud.

" Dear Al,

First, I'm sorry. I know you wanted a new life, and I'm sorry to say that I'm not ready. I'm a coward! For the first time in years, I'm completely terrorized by the future. I don't want anything to change. But I can understand: you want a bit of happiness and a new home. So please, my dear Alphonse, enjoy this opportunity and don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

I love you, little brother.

Edward "

Mustang looked at Alphonse. Some tears were now rolling on the boy's cheeks.

- "Stupid brother!" He said, "How could he imagine that I would have a happy life without him?"

Riza took the crying boy in her arms, rocking him gently. The general got up and said to his subordinates:

- "Stop what you were doing, we're going to look for Ed! Riza, Havoc, Breda, with me; Fuery you stay here with Al and cover us up!"

- "Yes Sir!"

- "WHAT?" Al's face passed from sadness to anger. "I want to go with you! Ed's MY brother!"

- "No Al." Mustang said, as he knelt down in front of the youngest Elric. "I need you to stay here. Ed has to understand that we are his new family as well."

- "But…"

- "Al, listen!" Riza continued, "What would Ed think if he saw you with us? He will think that you forced us to search for him! He needs to know that he is part of our family. He needs to see that we care enough to go after him!"

Al stared at them a bit, then let out a sigh:

- "Ok…"

- "Beside, I thin you need to cool off a little before you see him, Al." Mustang said, chuckling. "Otherwise, I think you'll skin him alive!"

It was Al's turn to chuckle:

- "Yeah, I think you're right…"

- "All right everybody! Let's go!" The general shouted, standing up.

There! I hope you liked it!

Maybe I'll update faster if you send some reviews! Niark, niark!