A Nice Shady Tree

Summary: Alphonse mulls things over...

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters, I'm just the puppeteer.

Written by: The Castle in the Clouds


Alphonse was relaxing under a large shade tree, his back against the rough bark. The cool breeze rustling the leaves and coursing over his skin as he kept his eyes shut and his smile big. It was a nice day to be outside. Winry had been making adjustments to Ed's leg even though it appeared to be fine, his older brother glancing to him from time to time. Al got the hint that Ed wanted him to leave, so with a small but noticeable grin he got up and made his way outside with a deep breath and a smile. There sure was a lot to think about.

Would ever find someone to love?

Alphonse opened his eyes and squinted as he adjusted to the brightness of the sun, his thoughts immediately turning to his senses. It felt so good to have the sun hurt his eyes, to feel the crisp wind against his body and the rough bark on his back. He would forever be grateful to still be alive today even if that meant spending years in a metal prison. But it sure was good to have his ol' flesh and bones again.

"Yeah, a metal prison..."

Al stretched and placed his hands behind his head as a cushion against the tree. It had been miserable staying up every night, unable to sleep and rest. The nights used to be cruel and long, but it also gave him time to think.

"Brother..."

Did Ed know how much he loved him? Or how much he was thankful to have been something instead of nothing? Maybe he should have expressed it more instead of making his brother and Winry feel sorry for him? He should have thought of his armor as a guardian angel that stood between him and death, not a prison. Edward meant the world to him he was his big brother. His rock and his ally, his best friend and his protector.

He was his only family.

"Maybe I should have told him more..."

Al sat up an gazed at the white cotton balls that floated amongst the sky. They used to be like that. Not knowing where they were going or if they'll come back. And through it all Ed had kept his promise to restore their bodies. He really was something else.

Al lazily stood up and yawned, stretching as he turned and began walking down a familiar dirt road. As the comforting house came into view Al's footsteps faded away into the wind as he paused. A subtle smile graced his face as he turned around and made his way back to his favorite tree.

His thinking tree.

Something inside told him it wasn't time to head home yet. Maybe it wasn't words that did the best job at expressing love. Maybe it was what he did rather than what he said, and the best way to do that was not to interrupt whatever it was brother and Winry were doing.

Yeah, that's ok. He had a nice shady tree waiting for him anyway.