Flesh
This time it's easier for Gracia to find the room she is looking for. Falman's directions are incredibly accurate, and in no time she is standing before Alphonse Elric's door. She has been warned of Alphonse's poor state and decided that it will be best if Elicia doesn't see him now, so she has left Elicia with Roy. She believes that Roy will appreciate the distraction, because it's not as if he can read to pass the time the way Maes used to tell her that Roy did whenever he ended up in the infirmary back at the Academy.
Gracia shakes her head, takes a deep breath, reminds herself that the doctors are the ones who best know how to take care of Alphonse's health no matter how emaciated he looks, and knocks on the door.
"What?" a familiar voice snaps as the door opens, and a moment later Edward is blinking up at her. "Mrs. Hughes?"
Gracia smiles.
"Hello, Ed. I heard I could find you and your brother here."
Edward blinks again before he seems to gain control over himself. He takes a step back and gestures for her to come in with his right hand, his flesh right hand.
Before Gracia can comment, she catches sight of the figure on the bed.
Alphonse is truly little more than a skeleton, his too-pale skin stretching over his far too visible bones, but he is flesh and blood and bones and his smile is truly beautiful when he beams up at her.
"Mrs. Hughes!" he exclaims, delighted, and Gracia's smile grows. "What a surprise!"
Alphonse's smile grows impossibly wide when Gracia says that she would love to have them over for dinner as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.