Author's Note: Ok guys thank so much for all the reviews on last chapter. Really helps me out and makes it worth it to keep updating! I intend to write a conclusion in 2-3 more chapters. Stay tuned!

Chapter 3

When Ed and Al got back to the house Mustang was downstairs drinking from a coffee mug as he talked to granny. Ed noticed Al's immediate scowl at the Führer and nudged him gently in the ribs. He got the message and started acting normal. Even though Roy couldn't see, Winry and granny still could and Ed wasn't up for questions from them quite yet.

"Edward, is that you?" Mustang asked with a broad smile.

"Yeah," Ed responded bluntly. "I wasn't expecting you to be here when I got back. Any particular reason?" He had to at least pretend Al hadn't told him anything, though Mustang would most likely assume as much.

"I have an important offer for you, Ed," he said. He stood up and crossed the room towards Ed and Al, stopping a few feet away. "I think I can get you your alchemy back, if you'll allow me to help."

Ed grunted in an indifferent tone. "How exactly do you intend to do that?" he asked. "I gave up my gateway for Al's body and soul to be brought back through. It's worth a human life to Truth, now."

Roy's smile broadened slightly. "Precisely," he said excitedly. "I happen to have a portion of Marcoh's Philosopher's Stone that was left. Since the stone is made with human lives, it should be more than enough for you to get your alchemy back."

Ed thought for a moment before replying. "So," he said, "why would you offer it to me? It's the last known Philosopher's Stone in Amestris. You could use it for so many other things." Mustang stepped closer and reached out a hand, resting it on Ed's shoulder. Ed flinched only slightly, but didn't move away.

"I owe it to you, Edward," Mustang said. "You've helped me so much, and you are the sole reason that this nation is at peace." He leaned closer, his breath hot on Ed's neck. "And I still owe you an apology," he whispered. "Consider this a start." Ed blushed slightly.

Could Mustang really be trying to make amends? Or was this just another ploy to get Ed alone, this time somewhere he couldn't escape so easily. Only one way to find out. "Alright, Roy," Ed said with a slight smile. "Let's get started." Roy nodded.

"In order to get you to the other side I'll need to perform a human transmutation on you," Roy said. "Once on the other side, it's up to you to negotiate with Truth."

"I think it would be better if I did the transmutation," Al said, barely keeping a full glare from reaching his face. "He is my brother, after all." Al stared at Mustang for a brief moment and waited for a challenge until Ed spoke up.

"Mustang can do it, Al," he said. "After all, it is his Stone and was his idea." Al looked at Ed sharply. Surprise played across his face in waves.

"But brother!" he said, his argument being ended with a simple raise of Ed's hand.

"It's fine, Alphonse," Ed said. After he was sure Al wouldn't provide any further argument he turned back to Roy. "Alright Mustang, let's do this. We can make the circle where Al and I's house used to be. That place has already been tainted by human transmutation." Mustang nodded and walked to the door, taking a few seconds to find the handle before opening it.

"Let's get going," he said. "I want to be back in time for dinner. Alphonse you can come along, if you'd like. I understand how much you care for your brother." Roy walked out of the house and waited for Ed to lead the way. At this rate, Mustang would be dependent on other's to be his eyes for the rest of his life. For a human to undo something done by Truth would take a lot of power, probably the majority of the Philosopher's Stone, so after this there would be no way for Marcoh to restore Roy's vision again.

Al and Ed walked side by side with Mustang behind. Al continuously glanced at his brother with both curiosity and frustration baring their faces. Ed reached over and squeezed his brother's hand to assure him everything would be alright. To be honest he didn't know if it would, but he had to be strong for his brother. If he ever wanted to find out Mustangs true intentions, being alone with him again where he can't use alchemy would be the only moderately safe way.

They scaled the hill up to the plot where Ed and Al used to live with their mother, and at one time even their father. "I can't draw the circle on this large of a scale myself," Mustang said, "but I brought a smaller version so you could copy it." He produced a rolled up piece of paper from his coat pocket. Upon unrolling it Ed recognized the same exact human transmutation circle he'd used while inside Gluttony. That was the only time he'd used a Philosopher's Stone, and it seemed it would be the case again.

Ed handed the paper to Al and nodded. "It'll go faster if you just transmute it, Al," he said. Al nodded and studied the circle. After about a minute he rolled up the paper and handed it back to Ed. Alphonse took a deep breath before clapping his hands together and pressing them to the ground in front of him. A flash of light from the alchemy was there for a second before disappearing, leaving behind a replica of Mustang's circle entrenched in the ground.

"Done," Al said. He eyed Roy cautiously as the man stepped forward and into the large circle.

"Come on Edward," he said. "We both need to be in the circle." Roy reached into his pocket and produced a small red stone. The thing still forced a gasp from Ed's lips. It was a little less than half the size it was when Ed had last seen it. That was before Marcoh had used it to heal both Havoc and Mustang. The stone must have had more power than Ed had realized. 'Even after this,' he thought, 'there still might be enough of it left to do some incredible things. Maybe Marcoh would even be able to heal Roy again.' The thought made him smile. If Roy truly was sorry, and he really was just trying to help Ed, he would do anything to make sure he got his vision back.

"Edward?" Roy called again. Ed snapped his attention back to the present and let his thoughts go for the moment. He stepped into the circle and went to the very center, standing a short distance away from Mustang. "Well, now or never."

Mustang touched the ground and the circle around them began to glow. For a brief second Ed was in extreme pain, as if he was being torn apart atom by atom. It seemed to take an eternity, but suddenly it was gone. Ed was on the ground on his hands and knees in a large white space. Behind him was a large gateway. 'Roy's gateway,' he thought. To his side was the man who had transmuted him, already getting up on his feet. In front of them was the ever grinning Truth.

"Welcome back again, my alchemists," the thing said. "Or, alchemist. What toll shall I be taking today?" Truth licked his lips. Mustang grabbed Ed's hand and handed him the Stone.

"It's all up to you now," he whispered. Ed looked at him with surprise.

"You're really doing this for me?" he asked. Roy smiled and took a step back. It was Ed's turn. He turned to Truth and held out his hand with the stone. "How about this little red thing?" he shouted. "It's got at least a few human lives still in it. That should be more than enough to pay our toll and for you to give me back my gateway."

Truth snatched the Stone from Ed's hand and held it close to his blank face. "Oh yes, yes, yes!" he exclaimed. "Such a beautiful toll! You say you want your gateway back, eh? I'll give it back, but I never want to see you again. An alchemist is only supposed to ever pass through his gateway once, and this is the fourth time I've seen you little alchemist. If I see you again, you're never leaving. Deal?" Truth smiled a toothy grin.

"Not quite," Ed said. "I gave you my gateway to get my brother back. That's one human life. This stone is worth more than that. You'll also give Roy his vision back. That's our deal."

"And… I get to keep all of the pretty red stone?" Truth acted much like a child sometimes. Perhaps, in his own way, he was. Edward nodded, rewarding a squeal of glee from Truth. Instantly another huge Gateway dropped behind them, Ed's gateway. Looking over at Roy Ed saw him blinking and waving his hand in front of his eyes in disbelief.

"You go now," Truth said as he stared at his prize. "Leave me with my beautiful stone."

Ed smiled to himself, then turned his smile to Mustang. Their eyes met and Roy mouthed the words he'd yet to say. "I'm sorry." Ed smiled and took Roy's hand in his.

"Let's try things again," he said. "Slowly this time." Roy blushed and nodded. "Oh," Ed added, "and I'm top first time, okay?" Roy opened his mouth to protest but just smiled and nodded.

The two walked out of the gateway with their fingers locked, leaving behind the childish Truth to play with his prize.

End Note: Tsk tsk, look at me. I know I said there would be a few more chapters, but it looks like next one will be the last. I really want to focus on my new fic about envy and al, so I'm gonna finish this one as soon as I can. Again, I work all weekend starting tomorrow until Sunday afternoon, so if I don't update again tonight then Sunday is the soonest I will.