To Be Forgiven

To all the wonderful reviews: Thank you guys for reviewing. You guys are what kept me going! )

Warning: May contain spelling or other language related errors due to lack of Beta-ing! You have been warned!

Disclaimer: If I do own FullMetal Alchemist, Edward will probably be 180cm tall, loves milk and will be having fun with Roy every night! In layman's term that wouldn't happen unless in a fic…. smirks at Ed

Chapter 2: The Truth (Part I)

———

And all people live, not by the reason of any care for themselves, but by the love for them that is in the other people. —Leo Tolstoy

———

After Mustang dragged Alphonse out of Edward's ward he left him by the side to calm down.

"Al." Winry called out as she walked over to Al who is now seating adjacent to the wall. Al looked up as Winry with tears sparkling sadly in his eyes.

"Look, Al, right now all we have to do is," Winry squatted down, eyes meeting with Al's and gather his hands and embrace them with her own warmth, "believe in Ed, we'll wait and trust that Ed will make it!" She smile and pulled him with her off the ground.

Al smiled and thanked her, "Thank you, now I'm feeling slightly better. Brother wouldn't give up so easily!" as Al looked around, he then realized that everyone was gone, even Mustang and Hughes. "Where's everyone?" he asked

"Come on, let's head back to your ward!" Winry ignored Al's question and drag him along towards the direction of his ward, which is located over at the other section of the hospital.

"Hey! But," before Al could protest further, Winry drew out her ultimate weapon— the Wrench! Making Al sweat, he swore that wrench was blinking evilly at him, with some long forgotten blood stain. "All right!" Al complied immediately.

"That's a good boy." Winry laugh in triumph as she kept her wrench to Al's relieve. 'I should have hid this wrench from her when the opportunity arises!' Al noted mentally, the last thing him could do under Winry's mercy is to look sadly as Ed's ward.

———

"So, I presume this is Mr Maes? Right, Mr Mustang." Dr Matt asked as he looks towards the two military officers in front of him.

Mustang nodded and continued "Just call me Roy," mustang reminded him not to be so formal, "and him, Hughes" he points towards Hughes who is attempting to show Dr Matt his collection of Elysia's photos.

Dr Matt ignored him anyway and began their conversation. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Hughes tucks his collection of photo neatly into his breast pocket, much to the doctor's delight.

"Well, the reason I would like to talk to you guys now is because we've finally manage to figure out what's wrong with Edward." Dr Matt began seriously

"Since you want us to talk privately even without the presence of Al, I presume that you do not want anyone to know, not even his brother." Roy commented

"Yes," Dr Matt nodded "actually Ed has regained conscious for a short while just now, he had requested not to let his brother know of his condition and let his brother thinks that everything is alright and under control."

"And?" Hughes prompted Dr Matt to continue

"To be honest, his condition is really grave" Dr Matt continued with a grim expression

Roy and Hughes exchange an understanding nod

"Why don't we drop by at your office later? It seems that you still have your rounds to finish, it wouldn't be good if we interrupt you." Roy suggested

Dr Matt nodded his head in agreement and he went back to his duties

Roy and Hughes head towards Al's ward for their upcoming event of the day

Behind the 'Exit' door at the corner, a man hidden in the shadow smirked evilly at the two military officers as they walk away.

———

"What do you think?" Roy asked as he walks beside Hughes, knowing at once he is asking about Ed's condition.

"I think this is not going to be all so sunny." Hughes replied with a cautious look

"Looks like we've the same thought didn't we?" Roy smirked at his dark humor

"Yeah maybe," Hughes laughed, "here we're, looks like we made in on time" as they walk towards Al's ward

Roy nodded, "Looks like Winry is having fun with her detours"

"Yeah," Hughes agreed, "but we have to be careful with ours from now, our duty as adult is to protect them and only tell them what they need to know."

Roy nodded, "Let's get in now" and they entered Al's ward

———

"Winry, are you sure we walked this way just now?" Al asked suspiciously

"Yeah!" Winry replied with confidently, "See, your ward is over there!" She points to Al's ward which was just a few wards away

'Phew, I almost lost my way all thanks to their stupid idea of asking me to try my best to take Al on a detour so that' Winry's train of thought was interrupted by Al "Hey, Winry, hurry up!"

"Coming!" Winry said as she joins Al

When Al opened the door, Winry gave him a push, causing to hop right in all the way to the middle of the ward

Before Al can comprehend what's going on he was showered in party poppers, followed a series of "SURPRISE!"

Al just stood rooted to the spot as him blink dumbly. Until when someone tapped him on the shoulder, he finally reacted and turns around to find Winry smiling at him and handling him a bouquet of flowers.

Realization finally sinks in as he looked around to see everyone was here, Winry, Mustang, Hughes, Hawkeye, Havoc, Breda, Fuery, Falman, Armstrong, Ross, Denny and even Sciezska, every of those who worked closely with and those who helped them all along. Despite being a kid compared to the reality world outside, Mustang and crew treat them with respect, like an adult and at times reminded them they're still a child.

"Thank you, I don't know else to say, but that's very sweet of you guys!" Al laughed as he scratches the back of his head

But something is nagging him behind of his head, " This is my happiest moment of my life, I guess," He continued as he looked down at his hands and everyone smiled, 'but of all people, brother is not here to celebrate with me, after all the journey all the struggle' he though sadly

As if Winry can read his mind, she said," C'mon Al, don't be sad already"

Al looked up at her, followed by all the decorations, food, drinks and even lots of presents waiting for him to open them.

"We all know how you feel right now, but this surprise party is solely put up for you, so don't be such a wet blanket." Roy continued for Winry as he led Al to the pile of presents

"Guess you guys were right" Al smiled sheepishly

In front of the tables that all the presents are resting on, stands Hawkeye

She gave a slight bow and steps aside, raising her left hand she points to the pile of the presents and some self-made cards and said, "These were from some of the homes that you have helped before," she points to the next pile and continued, "these were from some of the nurses and doctors that knew both Edward and you," she pointed to the next pile, "These are from people you helped," she points to the last pile, "and, finally, these are from us" she smile, which is very rare and move away after her short presentation.

"Thank you" Al thanked them again and hugged everyone

"Now with this wonderful moment," Hughes stepped out and continues, "I would like to share with you people the special edition of my photo collections!" he declared as he takes a chest from nowhere, and gently takes out the metal photo album containing the most precious collection of Elysia's photo, as everyone else sweat drops

"Look! This is Elysia in her birthday dress! "Isn't she adddooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaabbbblllllllleeeeee? An angel so as to speak" Hughes when to ramble about his tales of Elysia

With Roy putting on his gloves on standby, if Hughes refused to stop he'll threaten to burn them. Everyone laughed as they watch the show of 'The Normal People Versus the Weird People'

———

After the small surprise party ended, everyone starts to depart for their home, leaving Mustang, Hughes, Hawkeye and Winry with Al.

"So, how are you feeling right now?" Roy asked as he gestured with his hands as he takes a seat near Al's bed as everyone followed suit

They've already done cleaning and now are time to get down to business

"Well, I would say very good" Al replied looking at his hands as he flex his fingers

"I see, look, right now I'll not beat around the bush anymore, let just get this straight already" Roy continued as everyone look up upon hearing Roy's statement and they focus their view between Mustang and Al

"Why did you guys have to do it without my permission?" Roy asked eyes betraying no emotions

"Is.. because…Brother insisted to do it, he kept telling me, "We're running out of time!" So we went ahead and…" Al replied, he looked nervously at Winry, who just place a comforting hand at his shoulder

"What?" Roy reacted with his tone slightly crescendo, "Do you know how lucky that you guys came back in one piece? What if something went wrong?" he spat

"Of course, we know!" Al tighten his grip on the blanket he's holding on and looked straight at Mustang's eyes, "of course we know" Al repeated again, this time softer, with something like sadness hovering in his words

Roy braced himself, and told himself to continue, "Can you remember what happen?" he asked with a flat voice

"Not really" Al shook his head

"Is okay, just tell me as much as you can, whatever you remember" Roy enjoin calmly

"Alright, it started when Brother disappeared and I went to look for him" Al closed his eyes and tried to recall

———

Flash back

It was dark; Al cannot even see himself clearly

"Where am I? Why can't I move?" Al asked himself as he struggles to move, the sound of chain could be heard whenever Al fidgets

'Guess whoever that brought me here chained me up pretty well' Al concluded as he tussles with the chains

A sound started him; a deep and low moan erupted from the other end of the room.

A dim light pour into the room from the other end, Al guess it must be the door that was making all these noise.

Next, he heard two pairs of footsteps, one of which is accompany by chains. What made Al become alert, was one of the footsteps had a distinguish difference, one is light the other is heavy. Making him relieve, it must be his brother, Ed!

But on the second note, Ed's not alone.

"Brother?" Al called out, unsure what else to say

A soft gasp could be heard, followed by chuckled by other person, the voice is familiar to Al

"Envy" Al spat the name with disgust

The chuckled had escalated to a mock laughter, "Yup, that's me!" Envy replied as Ed and he move across the room, walking towards Al

Stopping just a few meters away, Al look towards where the last footstep was heard. A sudden movement and a grunt was heard and the next thing something was thrown onto Al

Although Al cannot see, but he can tell that it was his brother, "Brother, are you okay?"

"Yeah, barely" came a weak sound as he gather strength to roll off Al and onto the floor.

Before Al can say any insult to Envy, he heard the door moan again

"I'm looking forward to your performance tomorrow" Envy whispered and closed the door shut.

Leaving nothing but darkness in the wake of the brothers.

"Brother," Al starts again,"what's going on?"

"Sorry Al," Ed said apologetically, "I'm too tired to talk about this."

"It's alright then." Al replied patiently

———

To be continued…

End of Chapter 2

Elie: Alright, this is the second chapter! Sorry for the long wait, guys! Well, it was largely due to my stupid Brother, for losing my both hard and soft copy of the planning to this story. So it pretty much will be heading towards a different direction as compared to the initial storyline I had in mind. And school work and exam had been a bitch so it might take some time before another update. But reviews will always be the means to get me update! And sorry for a cliff hanger! I will try to update!

PLEASE REVIEW constructive criticisms and suggestions are accepted. Flames will be ignored.

And last but not least, thank you for reading, more thanks for adding my story onto the story alert and many more thanks for reviewing and most thanks to those who did all! Cookies for everyone! )

Laterz