Well, this is the end. It's been real... Actually, it's been fiction, but we'll ignore that technical detail... So, let's hope that this epilogue doesn't suck as much as the one in Harry Potter!

Lips of an Angel

Epilogue: Beginnings

Al was not surprised when he got the phone call from Roy, nothing his brother did really surprised him any more. He didn't like it, but he knew better than to try and change it. The younger Elric learned from his mistakes, and he knew that some things just had to stay the way they were. The cost was too great to attempt to change them.

He dressed the children in black, grabbed his wife's hand, and left the house on the day of darkness. Winry was crying, and the kids stood close to their parents, silent and confused. They didn't understand their mother's sadness. Only Al stayed calm. Of all the people present, only Al and the preacher were free of tears.

Al almost had to laugh at the irony of it all. His brother had never believed in God, and yet, in the end, here they were, his friends and family praying for a safe voyage to a heaven he had never believed in. Al wondered if he would make it. He sincerely hoped that Ed would finally find happiness.

Rayne was pulling on her father's coat sleeve. He looked down to see her gazing up at him, confused and innocent. "Where's Uncle Ed, Daddy? They're all talking about him, where is he?"

A sob racked Winry's body as her daughter's question reached her ears. Al kneeled down in front of the girl, silently pointing to the long, wooden case. "He's in the box' Rayne asked, and Al nodded. "How come? Can we see him?" Winry kneeled down next to Al, shaking her head sadly.

"No, honey, we can't see him."

Rayne pushed out her bottom lip, looking from one parent to the other. "But-"

Al cut her off, looking at his wife. "Winry, why don't you take the kids home?" he suggested gently. "They shouldn't be here.."

Winry nodded, grabbing each child by the hand. As they walked away, Al heard Rayne speak again. "But I wanted to play with Uncle Ed.."

Al sighed, staring up at the place where his brother lay. Al and his family had been seating in the back, so that Al couldn't quite see into the open casket. He thought of Rayne's questions, and Josh standing silently by his sobbing mother. How could they ever understand what had happened? Children brought such sadness to funerals...

Later on, Al walked forward to lay a flower on the casket. He peered down at his brother, admiring the cold beauty. Long sleeves covered Ed's arms, hiding the mutilation. His final confession, his final words: I love you Al Al had seen the bloody words the night of the death. He admired the perfection of Ed's looks with these wounds covered.

Al wondered at his own sanity as he walked away from the funeral. With all of the tears that had fallen from his eyes before, at times that now seemed irrelevant, he wondered why none fell now. He wondered why he felt cold and empty, why the sadness didn't reach him. He wondered why the death had not surprised him. He must have known his brother's intention all along.. So why hadn't he tried to stop him? Denial was a funny thing.

His fingers brushed against the crumpled paper in his pocket. The last note, addressed to him. He took it out, unfolding it gently. The writing was shaky, nervous.

Al,

Forgive me. I know my actions are inexcusable, but I think it's better this way.

Everything I've ever done has been for you. That's why I left, but this...I don't

know. This might be for me. You have a beautiful family, Al, never forget them.

Stay there with them, live for them, and protect them with your life. Those kids

need you like we needed dad. Don't you dare repeat his mistakes, or I'll haunt

your ass. I've already said goodbye, and I won't repeat it. I love you, Al.

Never forget.

Ed

Al refolded the paper, and shoved it back into his pocket. It was strange, knowing that his brother's last thoughts were of him. Al felt pity for Roy. He knew that the Colonel had really loved Ed, and it was no secret that the Elric hadn't returned the feelings, Ed's feelings for the Flame Alchemist had bordered on resentment. It was all rather sad.

Al looked toward the sky, the bright blue and the sun mocking the day. Why would the sun shine down upon death? How dare the Gods mock the end of Edward Elric? The sky and the sun; they didn't understand. They didn't appreciate the severity of the occasion. They were ignorant, imbeciles, joking at a funeral. Al pitied them, and smiled. He let the sun bathe him in warm, golden light. It was so familiar, yet different from what he remembered.

Yes, he would live, he would continue on. He wouldn't run away as his brother and father had. They were so alike, though Ed would not enjoy that knowledge. Al was sure that Ed hadn't even realized how alike his death was to their father's abandonment. Al smiled wider as he thought of his brother's foolishness. It was so like Ed, who was always rash with his actions and late to think.

Al walked home, a smile still on his face. He walked calmly through the door, pulling his children into his arms. He planted a kiss on each of their cheeks, then smiled at his wife. "I've come home, I've come to live."

He could almost feel his brother smiling down upon him as these words passed his lips. He looked again to the golden sun, knowing that he would never be alone. As long as the sun continued to shine, he would have his brother's love. After all, the Elric brother's were forever together, not even death itself could keep them apart. Al knew that his children would grow up under the light and protection of their uncle. This day was not the end, for the end would never come. Endings did not exist for those bearing the name of Elric, only beginnings.

Heh.. I can't really pass that off as a happy ending, can I? Well, it ends with a feeling of hope at least! Although it's still really sad, with Ed dead and all... Anyway, please review! I would like to know what you all thought! Also, to any artists out there, I would really appreciate fanart if you would care to create it!