Apologies for the delay. Thanks for your input into the sex scenes. Doggie is definietely out for the first time, but could be in there later on.

Here's the next chap. Hope it's satisfactory :)

Roy's smooth, black hair danced with the wind as he flew through the air. The clouds that had once adorned the sky in Roy's rage had dissipated. It was calm once more. The little one in his arms had made sure of that. Only he could calm the beast's anger, banish it to the back of Roy's mind, forgotten. Ed seemed to have that effect on him. But Roy was not happy. His Lifemate had deliberately disobeyed him. No one had ever disobeyed him, ever. It was just something that no one dared do.

He didn't know how to deal with it. What was he supposed to do if Ed wasn't afraid to stand up to him? Fear had always been his leverage. Now he was bereft of said leverage, and frankly. . . .it scared him. He, Roy Mustang, who had never been afraid of anything in his entire existence, was unsettled with the fact that his Lifemate wasn't the least bit intimidated by him. If he wasn't intimidated, then he wouldn't respect Roy. Roy needed respect. Everyone respected him, save for the boy in his arms. They feared him more, that was true, but there was an underlying respect underneath all that fear, with which Roy had no problem sensing.

But this? This was alien to him. Never before had his heart clenched with worry. Never before had he been scared for anyone. But when Ed had been in trouble, he couldn't think straight, of anything except saving Ed.

Feelings made him stupid, he decided. They made him act rashly, and without thought. But there was a part of him that disagreed entirely. Ed brought him feelings. Ed brought him hope. There was no way he could ever repay his csitri for that.

He looked down to the blonde in his arms, and his once stoic mouth twitched in the barest hint of a true smile. Not a mocking smirk, but a true smile. This, he decided, was how he wanted to spend the rest of his existence, with his Lifemate securely in his arms. He'd never let Ed go. Never. He knew he had been quite unjust in the domination of his other half, but he couldn't help it. He'd always been like this, and it was hard for him to suddenly change. But as he looked at the soft bundle in his grasp, he decided for him he would try.

The mountain that housed his shelter came into view sooner than he thought. Had he really spent that much time pondering? Guess he had. Even though it was still the middle of the night, he could see as clear as day. It allowed him to easily locate the small crack in the mountain side, which led to his refuge. Once again he donned the steps to the simple, earthy room. Once again he laid his Lifemate on the silky sheets. Deva Vu. Just what was it with his Lifemate with getting into trouble? He shook his head fondly. He guessed it was all part of the wild creature's beauty. And what a beauty he was.

Only centuries of control stopped Roy from ravaging him right there and then. To part those gentle lips and taste heaven. Flashes of that scorching kiss tore through his head, alongside other, less innocent fantasies. His Lifemate spread out before him, writhing in ecstasy beneath his hard body, in pleasure that only he could bring him. Oh, how he longed for that moment. He'd show Ed just what he was missing. It'd be a night Ed would not soon forget.

He seemed to be in a permanent state of arousal around his Lifemate. Every little toss and turn of that body against those silken sheets tested his control. He wouldn't take Ed like an animal, no matter how much his beast insisted. He would make it a slow seduction, coaxing and enticing the skittish deer into the sweet bliss only he could provide. His Lifemate would not be immune to his charm for long. He was attracted to him. The kiss proved it. There was no way the little spitfire would have let Roy kiss him had there been no attraction. No, he was interested all right. It was all in those golden pools. A curious heat had filled them when Roy had taken his lips. He wanted more. And Roy was going to give him more, a lot more. The flighty deer would soon tame to his hand. A predatory smirk graced his lips. The hunt had begun.

Two young brothers were running through green pasture with content smiles on their faces. One was in front, while the other lagged behind. Both were carrying bowls of fresh fruit, picked from the many trees around the countryside. Innocent laughter could be heard as they ran, both trying to outdo the other as they travelled along the path leading to their home.

The boy in front wore a shit-eating grin, mischief in his golden eyes, the light reflecting off his short, sun-kissed hair. He threw a piece of fruit at the slower boy's feet, putting more distance between them.

"No fair, brother! That's cheating!" The other boy yelled, mockingly hurt as he stumbled over the fruit, but the look in the gentle grey eyes betrayed the effect. They were alight with childish glee. Unlike his brother's flaxen hair, he had more of a muddy blonde colour to his, matching perfectly with his eyes for the innocent look. A look that his brother couldn't achieve no matter how hard he tried.

"Aw grow up, Al!" He yelled back. "It's not my fault you're so slow!" They both knew he didn't mean it. Just a brotherly taunt to get Al riled up. But Al was not as innocent as he looked. He could be quite devious, and knew exactly how to get under his brother's skin. Al grinned slyly.

"Oh yeah?! Well it's not my fault you're as tiny as an ant, Ed!"

His jibe had the intended effect. Ed halted instantly, and turned blazing eyes onto his little brother.

"Who the hell are you calling short?! I'm still growing! I'm gonna be as tall as that tree!" He pointed to a juvenile tree, which was quite small, but looked huge to them.

"No you're not!" Al had stopped when his brother had, and was now in the midst of pointless banter.

"Yes I am!"

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am!"

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

Al smirked victoriously.

"I agree entirely, brother," Al concurred smugly.

It took Ed a few seconds to understand he'd been duped.

"AL!" He yelled, silently fuming in outrage. Both boys failed to hear the bang that went off in the distance, due to Ed's deafening yells.

He couldn't believe he'd fallen for that. He was the older brother. He didn't fall for such tricks. He turned his head to the side, pouting. As he did so, he saw smoke in the sky, directly above where their house was. That wasn't good.

'MOM!' he thought, trepidation coursing through his system.

"Al, hurry!" He screamed, already sprinting towards the blaze.

As they neared, horror filled them. There was almost nothing left of their house. All that remained was a huge pile of still burning embers, that were once the walls that had held up their home. Panic tore through Ed as he looked on. Where was his mom?! She wouldn't have been in there when it burnt would she? Looking around anxiously, he saw an odd shaped lump beside the debris. It moved slightly.

"Mom?" Ed inquired softly, slowly heading towards it, Al following cautiously behind. It moved again, and as he drew closer he could hear wet rasping, as if something was trying to breathe, and was failing miserably.

"Mom?" He asked again, hesitantly. From where he was he could see that it was covered in red. Blood. That wasn't all that shocked him. It looked to be in two bits. This couldn't possibly be human, let alone his mother . . .could it?

"Brother," Al whimpered. "What is that?"

Ed could hear the shaking in his brother's voice. He had to be brave for his little brother. That was what big brother's did after all. He didn't answer, but stalked closer. He started when it reached a mutilated arm out to him.

"E-Ed," it grated, blood forming a red pool around it. Ed paled as his eyes widened in recognition and horror. That thing was his mother? Who the hell did this?!

"MOM!" Ed screamed, rushing over to what was left of her torso. Up close the sight instantly made him nauseous. Insides poured out of her disfigured middle, slimy and pulsing with life. Her lower half was unrecognizable, just a mass of butchered meat. He looked into her massacred face, and swallowed bile. Abrasions had turned that once lovely face into something horrible. The mouth was just a hollow, lopsided and without lips, most of the teeth missing. Only one eye remained in her head, the socket where an eye should have been was just a cavity in her head, bone showing under torn skin. There was no nose or upper lip, looking like they'd been burnt off. Her once long, beautiful hair was reduced to a rapidly bleeding head, no hair to be seen.

"E-Ed," it rasped again. Ed could hear the rattle in her rapidly declining breathing. Frozen to the spot, all he could do was look, his pallor almost translucent. He could vaguely feel Al latched onto his arm tightly. Hear his hitched breathing as he struggled not to bawl. Ed was too shocked to cry, too numb to feel anything, to see anything but the site before him. He was so numb that he failed to hear light footsteps behind him.

His mother's only eye widened as he looked over her sons' shoulders. She tried to speak but there was so much blood in her throat, it was almost impossible. She saw the figure's hand descending towards her, and knew death was not too far away. She looked to her boys sadly. She wished they hadn't seen this. Her little Al had his face hidden in Ed's sleeve, his body quivering. Oh, but her Ed. Her little man. He was staring at her, golden eyes so wide all she could see was white.

'Just close your eyes, sweetie,' she thought bleakly. 'Just close your eyes, and look away. It'll beover soon.' She closed her eye, a single tear running down her cheek, clearing a path of blood as it went. Through the haze of pain, she felt a hand on her head. . . then no more.

Ed didn't register the long, slim hand that reached past his face towards his mother. He seemed to snap out of it when he saw a tear run down his mother's face. It did register when his mother was suddenly gone, and warm chunks of flesh molded themselves to his body. He screamed, and through his panic he could hear Al do the same.

When he had screamed himself hoarse and could think again, he noticed a man standing behind them. He whirled round to face him, protectively putting Al behind him. He wasn't fast enough however, as the man grabbed Al's arm and pulled him against his body. The man put his sharp, angular face beside Al's and looked Ed dead on, smirking. Al looked at Ed pleadingly too scared to speak. Ed automatically took a step towards Al, instinctively trying to ease that look on his brother's face.

"Ah, ah, ahh, little boy. You don't want to be doing that," the man drawled lazily, waving one finger in a 'no' motion.

Ed stopped, and regarded the man carefully. He was tall and lean. His black hair was cut short at the top, but was very long in the back, tied with what looked to be rope, twisted around some of the ponytail. It was his eyes that shook Ed though. They were similar to his own, golden in hue. But the man's eyes had no life in them. There was nothing but a ruthlessly cruel madness that showed on his face. A sadistic smirk adorned his slim face, thin eyebrows slanted down to add to the depraved look. He could sense evil around this man. It permeated the air with its darkness. Ed knew he had to tread carefully. There was no telling what he would do to Al. Look what he did to his mother. Ed went cold at the thought.

"Let him go," Ed demanded his voice steady when he felt anything but.

"Now why would I go and do that? I just want to talk," he smugly stated. "Don't you want to talk to me?" There was that depraved look again.

Ed didn't trust himself to speak, and just shook his head.

"That's too bad. I'd hate for anything to happen to your little brother. Cute kid. He'd look even cuter blown apart." The sadistic smirk seemed to be a permanent part of his face.

"Don't you agree, big bwudda?" the man taunted.

Ed clenched his teeth and fists angrily. This man was going to kill Al and there was nothing he could do.

"Ooo getting angry are we? Don't you just wanna rip me apart? Tear me limb from limb?" He taunted Ed even more by slowly extending his tongue, and licking the side of Al's face.

He sighed dramatically. "Ahh youth. They make the best explosions."

Al was looking positively transparent, his skin was so pale. Tears ran down his cheeks as he shook uncontrollably. He wanted to yell out to Ed but he didn't risk it. He was so scared. He wanted his brother to get the man away from him.

"Shut the hell up! Let Al go!" Ed screamed out, shaking in anger, adrenaline rushing through his body. He couldn't lose Al to this man.

"I'm thinking. . . .no."

"Who the hell are you anyway?!"

"Call me Kimbley," he answered, features twisting sardonically.

"Why did you-" he cut off sharply, his voice breaking as his eyes squeezed shut. He couldn't even say it. He opened his eyes, and saw Al's face. Courage flowed through him. He couldn't wimp out now. Al was depending on him.

"Why did you kill our mother?" he ground out, dreading the answer, but he had to know.

Kimbley looked at him amusedly. "Why? Why not? She was in the way. She wouldn't tell me what I wanted to know."

A vile rage filled Ed as he heard that. Kimbley had killed his mother because she was in the WAY?! That was no excuse to end a life. Flashes of his mother's mutilated body filled his head. He wanted to break down right there. Scream and cry until his mother came back. The only thing that stopped him was Al. Al would never see his big brother break.

Lividly, he glared at Kimbley, pure hate in his eyes. They almost seemed to glow with an ethereal glow.

Kimbley saw those eyes, and grinned predatorily.

"Yes. That's the power I want to see. Show me more," he said hungrily.

"What power? What wouldn't mom tell you?" Ed needed answers and he needed them now. He was hoping to distract the man and grab Al. He should have known it would never be that simple.

The man's smirk faltered for the first time. "What power? Kid, you're really in the dark aren't you?" Kimbley's insane grin was back on his face in a matter of seconds. "She wouldn't tell me where you were. Such a stupid woman. Would have lived longer had she told me. Oh well, I had fun anyway. Do you want me to show you what I did to her?" At this he looked down at Al.

Ed couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mom had died protecting him. Had suffered for so long because of him. Kimbley was after him? What for? He was nothing special. But. . .no that wasn't entirely true. He did have abilities that he hadn't mentioned to anybody, afraid they'd call him a freak. He could do things no on else could. He decided to play ignorant though, play it safe.

When Kimbley said about doing the same to Al, something in Ed snapped. He seemed to lose himself. Something inside rose to meet him, making him feel animalistic.

When he spoke, it was with a guttural growl. "You son of a bitch. Don't you dare touch my brother. I don't know why you want me, and I don't care. But you won't hurt Al."

Kimbley stared directly into Ed's eyes, transfixed. "Beautiful," he whispered. "Such strength. You will be mine."

Kimbley was distracted, and Ed took his chance. He leapt towards Al. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Al seemed to scream something at him, a word he'd heard and treasured many a time before. Brother. He had grabbed onto Al's arm when Kimbley moved. Al's look of relief turned to sudden horror, as Kimbley's hand splayed over his small face.

All Ed saw was Al's terrified eye, peeking out from behind Kimbley's hand, before it glowed, and Al exploded into thousands of bloody pieces.

"AL!!"

Ed woke with a start, and shot straight up, cruelly mocking laughter ringing in his ears. His heart pounded, and his chest heaved as he fought for air. He was shaking uncontrollably, tears continuously rolling down his face. His body was bathed in a cold sweat, courteous of that memory.

He tried to wipe his face, but something was stopping him. It took him a moment to realize it was a body. Roy. He was holding him, stroking his hair comfortingly. It shouldn't feel so right. It shouldn't, but it did. Feeling suddenly desperate, he began to struggle, trying to get out of that warm embrace that felt so right.

"Sssh, csitri," Roy whispered. "I've got you. It's alright. Calm down."

But Ed couldn't calm down. He needed to get out of there. He shouldn't be this close. He couldn't breathe. He hadn't realized he'd started hyperventilating, until Roy whispered to him again.

"Breathe with me, Ed. Listen to my breathing. Match yours to mine," Roy calmly explained.

It was easier said than done. His heart was still going a mile a minute and he still couldn't breathe. Suddenly he could feel warmth flowing through him. His breathing became synced with Roy's, along with his heartbeat. It calmed him somewhat. But the memory was still fresh in his mind, blood everywhere. It was his fault. It was all his fault. Everything was his fault. Everyone would've been better off without him.

"That is not true, csitri. I would not be here if it were not for you," Roy's voice was gentle. "You may think you've done bad, but you have done no wrong."

"Yes I have," Ed quickly returned. "You don't know anything. What I've done. Who I've hurt." At that he couldn't talk anymore, his throat clogged up.

"That may be true, but bad things can happen to good people. I have watched over humans for many a century and that is the one truth that never changes. No matter how harsh it is, it will never change." Roy gazed down at his Lifemate in worry, a frown creasing his brow. "It pains me to see you this way, csitri."

Ed, against his better judgment, was hanging off Roy's every word. At some point during the speech, his breathing had started hitching again, as he struggled not to cry. He scrunched his eyes shut against the onslaught of tears, but he couldn't stop the dam from breaking. Roy just held him tighter.

Ed lost it then, and completely broke down, sobbing into Roy's shoulder. He had never allowed himself to grieve properly over his family's death. He didn't deserve it. But now, in Roy's tender embrace, the tears kept coming. He knew he was getting Roy's shirt wet, but the man didn't seem to care. The man had done a complete 180. He hadn't though the man was capable of emotion, but he'd sure proved him wrong.

Eventually, his sobs slowed until they were nearly non-existent. He tried to control his breathing for what he knew was coming, but to no avail. Hiccups replaced the sobs, each with enough force to give him body a little jolt each time. God that was embarrassing. Not only had he completely broke down and soaked the guy's shirt, but now he was hiccupping. Could it get anymore embarrassing? His stomach growled loudly, and a blush crawled across his face. Apparently it could. He glanced at Roy from his perch on the man's shoulder, and saw the obsidian eyes staring right into his tear-stained ones. Roy's eyes were completely different from before. Before they held nothing, but now they actually held emotion. This surprised Ed. He definitely hadn't though the man capable.

Roy chuckled. "You are very cute, Ed. Full of surprises. I will not be bored with you around."

Ed blushed again. Damn the man. Stupid, obnoxious, arrogant, handsome. . . .wait, what? He didn't think Roy was handsome. He looked down Roy's body. Yes he did think he was handsome. Very, very handsome indeed. . . Shit, Roy could hear him couldn't he? He glanced back at Roy, and found out yes, he could hear him, if the smug smirk was anything to go by. A deep red brush spread over his entire face and neck, disappearing into his top.

Roy heatedly followed it. "I like your blush, csitri. Just how far down does it go?" He purred, sending pleasurable chills down Ed's spine. He could feel that gaze on him, as real as any touch. It sent heat right through him. If he could just- No! He didn't want to find out anything. He didn't deserve kindness, none at all.

Sensing the change in his Lifemate, Roy sobered. "You are hungry, Ed. What would you like to eat? I'm afraid I'll have to go hunting. Would you like to join me?" He posed the question casually, keeping conversation light, when in reality; he was waiting for Ed's reply on bated breath.

Ed wanted to get out. He needed to breathe, get some fresh air. A hunt sounded nice. Get his body moving; forget about his past for a bit.

"I'd like that," Ed replied with a small smile.