Disclaimer: Due to the cruel semblance of fate that seems to govern this world. I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, and am currently sporting a bulky brace on my right hand.

A/N: I apologize to anyone who read this or any of my other stories, and even if you don't, you're reading this, so... I could apologize to you as well if you wanted. I've been taking forever (like always) and have decided to seek out forgiveness with this something very, very short. The reason for this being that I have sprained my thumb, possibly broken the top of it, and pulled a ligament in the palm of the same hand. I am currently sporting a horrible brace that I despise and have removed to type this, and it is taking me quite a long time, as it sorta, ya know, hurts.

Anywho, not falling back into angst yet. Sorry all my angst fans out there. Next chapter, I promise. It will also concern snow and coldness, and sorrow and pain. I've got to stop myself before I get carried away and something in this fluffy chapter turns murderous and horrible.

IV

It had been Alphonse's first word, and he had said it every day since that moment.

"Buh... Buh-ruh... Buh-ruh-thirrr. Buhruh-tir... Buh-thuh! Buhthuh!"

Trisha Elric's eyes had grown three times in size. Her green irises alight with joy and her blushing cheeks glowing with pride. Her mouth, easy pink lips twisting into a soft, familiar grin, sought out the name of her eldest son. Her voice crashed around the room with her excitement.

She had thoroughly expected a "Momma" first, but this was just as good. No, this was even better.

"Buhthuh! Bruh-thuh!"

"Edward! Honey, come here!"
"What mom?" Edward chirped in his too good speech. He was so young, and he talked so well already. She was so proud of her boys. He careened around the corner and into the kitchen, losing his balance when his socks met the tile and stumbling his way into the room.

"Careful Edward!" she chided, panic that had risen into her throat gliding back down again as she let out a relieved sigh.

"Buhthuh! Buhthuh!" Alphonse's tiny fists balled up indignantly, his face screwing up into his best semblance of demanding, determined, "Bruh-thuh!" There was a half-eaten bowl of soft fruit beside him,most of it spread across the table, across his own face, and across Trisha entirely. "Buhthuh!"

Trisha could have sworn she had never seen Edward quite so happy.

"Al..." he breathed, his face twisting into the most gigantic grin he could manage, his two missing front teeth clear in the expanse of it all. His golden eyes, so big and young, closed almost completely with the force of his expression. A dimple in his cheek exposed itself to the air, and his nostrils flared with excitement. His two small hands came together before him, and he began to clap, something that he always did when he found joy in something, "Yes, yes, yes!" he chorused, "Again, again!" and his tiny little feet padded over toward his little brother, who's fruit covered hands he grabbed, stopping their angry path to the table, and he smiled that huge toothy grin down at Alphonse.

"Buhthuh!" Alphonse repeated, his countenance quickly switching from discontentment to a reflection of the happiness in Edward's own expression. He let out a giggle that made Trisha laugh.

Edward's smile grew even wider, if that was possible, and he brought up a small hand and lifted one finger into the air. Alphonse quieted instantly, his big blue eyes drawn straight to his brother's finger, interested and concerned with what was going to happen next. His chubby little fingers rose up and wrapped around Edward's, who laughed loudly. "Look," Edward let out, his eyes glowing. He took his finger, Alphonse's small fist still wrapped around it, and pointed it at himself and then at Alphonse, who was watching all of this with an extreme amount of interest. Edward repeated the action, "Big brother," he said as their fingers touched his own chest, and then when they turned and moved toward Alphonse, he smiled wider still and said, "little brother."

"Biiiiii-guh buhthuh." Alphonse repeated, squeezing Edward's finger and shaking his hands in all directions. Edward's arm involuntarily following his motions as said brother laughed, his eyes crinkling in amusement.

"Liiiiii-tle buhthuh," Edward responded, allowing his own voice to fall into Alphonse's stunted speech. His free hand moved to ruffle the small amount of light brown peach fuzz that littered Alphonse's head.

Trisha smiled, and she pointed to each of them, "Big brother, little brother." She repeated as well, then Edward turned to look at her with a smile, and she gave him a approving look, "You know this means you have to be a good big brother right?" she asked, with a small laugh.

Edward's golden eyes set with determination, and his grin set fire to Trisha's heart, "Yeah, the best."

A/N: Awe, baby Al makes me want to hug a teddy bear or something, and eat some pear baby food or something. :)

Stay cool, I think that should be my catch phrase or something, maybe I'll start ending all my chapters with that.

Stay cool ;)