His reason for smiling.

Alphonse sighted and closed the book in his lap after what had felt like an eternity
of silence while it had only been a moment.
Then he closed his eyes, looked down a bit before he sighted, opened his eyes
and looked at his brother again.
- I think...I think he is smiling because we are crying. Alphonse said with
a warm, honest voice as he continued to look at his brother.
- ALPHONSE ELRIC!THAT IS A TERRIBLE THING TO SAY ABOUT EDWARD/YOUR
BROTHER!Both Mei and Winry had roared from both sides of Alphonse, but
Alphonse seemed completely untouched bu their roars. While Winry's fury scared
the children, she sounded more hurt then anything.
- No...You don't understand...Alphonse said still completely calmly as he
put his elbows on his knees.
- I don't think my brother is smiling because he got to leave this world or
because he had to leave us. Even you think it sounds absurd. You only said it
because you thought you had not noticed him as he left. Alphonse said calmly
and looked towards everyone. He was not blaming or accusing anyone. He himself
had thought similarly.
- But that just doesn't answer it. It goes against almost everything that
brother was. And is. Alphonse said as everyone looked at him.
- My brother was a great man. He loved this world. While the world might have
been cruel to him, it made him strong and it made him a man loved by many
across the whole country. Alphonse said with a sight.
- I think he is smiling because he knew we would cry for him. We all loved him
very dearly. He was very close to us all. He is smiling for all the friends he
made, for all the promises he kept and for being able to get such a wounderful
life that he had before he had to leave it. Alphonse said before he started to
look at everyone.
- I think he is smiling for all the fond years he had with you Winry. And even
those years and moments you don't think fondly off, he still cared for. They
mattered very much to him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have them so close to his
heart. He is smiling for all those years of worry and love that you gave him
Winry. Alphonse said truthful and warm to Winry who now looked at him with an
understanding look before looking at her husband.
Alphonse then looked at Edwin, Trisha, Nina and Maes.
- I think he is smiling because he got to live through the childhood he lost
through the eyes of a role he greatly admired. And that he got to bring so many
great lives into this world and that he gave the people he had failed a second
chance in life and that could be there for the time he could. Alphonse said and
then smiled at the four children.
Trisha, Nina and Maes looked a bit confused before they understood what their
uncle had said and smiled back.
Edwin smiled again.
Then they all turned to face their father.
Edwin no longer felt bad for his father.

Alphonse turned to face his own family.
- He is smiling because even thou he nearly destroyed my life, he still managed
to save it. And that I managed to recover and restore it and that I have lived
with all my being ever since he sacrificed such a great deal of his life for
me. He is smiling because I no longer need him to watch out for me and that I
have my own things to watch over for. He is smiling because just like him, I
managed to move on from the past. And that I found the way back to the joys of
life after so many years in the cold. Alphonse and looked at his family before
they looked towards Edward.
Then Alphonse turned to look at the Mustangs.
- I think he is smiling because of all the great friends he had made throughout
the years and the people who loved him throughout the country for all the
things he did. He is smiling because he brought happiness to so many other
lives and still got enough happiness in his own life to have some to spare.
Alphonse said sincerely and honestly.
Roy, Riza, Dan and Maya looked at Edward.

Alphonse turned back to looking at his brother.
- If what you told me is true Mei...Alphonse started.
- It is. Mei reassured.
- ...Then I don't think my brother wanted to leave the world. He wanted to
stay. To bring more happiness to the world. But when he couldn't, he left. But knowing
that he would be greatly missed. Missed by everyone. Missed by everyone who
cared for him and loved him. Alphonse said with a warm fire in his voice and
eyes as he spoke.
Alphonse opened the book again and turned up one of the last pictures in the
book.
Last year's Christmas picture.
The placed the book on the table and everyone looked at it.
Everyone that was here now was there back then.
The only difference from the Edward in the picture and the now was that while
Edward back then had bandages around his head and was completely out, he was
still there with him in spirit.
Alphonse looked up from the picture and soon everyone else did and looked at
Edward.
Then back at the picture.
Even thou everyone was worried about his condition and state about the time,
they still knew that Edward treasured these pictures they took yearly and that
even thou he could not participate directly, he could still be present.

While his family and Al looked a bit worried and very close to the chair.
The unconscious Edward last year and Edward of the now was in, they still smiled
so that when Edward would wake up, he could still see that even thou they all
worried about him that they were fine.

Everyone looked at Alphonse, the picture and then Edward.
The picture was titled The Greatest Gift.
The secondary title was What more could you possibly wish for?
Alphonse sat back into the sofa again.
He sighted.
- I think this picture is proof enough of why he is smiling. He is smiling
because he knew that he could leave us and we would still be alright. There
were other people there who cared and we could take care of ourselves without
him. For once, he did not need to sacrifice anything to make everything
alright. He knew that. Alphonse said calmly and looked at his brother.
- He knew that we would cry for him. He is smiling because he knew we would
care for him. He knew that. He died knowing that he was loved and that he would
still be loved once he was gone. Alphonse sighted and looked at the picture
again.
The Christmas tree was barely visible, but it was clearly visible that that the
presents had not been opened yet.
Because of the whole thing that had happened, Edward was the only thing on everyone's
mind until he woke up a whole week later.
And when he had seen that picture, he had smiled and cried.
Then everyone had opened their presents once he was awake again. Because it had
just not felt right to not have him there when they opened them.
Alphonse glanced at the picture, then at the whole book itself as it laid open
on the table. Then at his brother, still smiling. And then at the Christmas
tree.

Then Alphonse jumped to his feet's.