Author's notes: I may slow down a bit on my posting after this, as the story still lacks an ending and I really need to work on it...I do have a good climax wrtien, as my beta-tester Yoky already knows...But I'm having trouble drawing things to a close...the characters don't want to leave...and it's sorta sad cuz I no longer have control over them - they do all the talking and I all I do is move my fingers...So the credit for this story really goes to them...Haha...that makes me sound sorta crazy...

Havoc didn't talk on the way there, he shuffled his feet and Mustang had to drag him by the arm. "For a dream this sure is real..." He muttered to himself, noting the nagging cold at his finger tips and the crunch his boots made in the snow.

"Hey! Mister!" A short blond boy came trudging up to him, followed by a huge silver suit of armor.

"Elric?" Mustang hardly recognized the youth - who wasn't wearing his trademark red coat. "You shouldn't be out here kid - the weather man says we're getting three more feet of snow - and you aren't tall enough to walk through it." Mustang chuckled, he couldn't resist.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLIN' A MICROSCOPIC SAWED OFF LITTLE RUNT?!?!?!" Ed bounced up and down and waved his fists.

"Brother?" The suit of armor shifted worriedly with a dull clank.

"Al! Can't you see I'm trying to work here?!" Ed turned to scold his brother.

"Sorry..."

"So," Ed turned back and clapped a hand on Mustang's back - he had to stand on tip toe to reach. "Have you heard the good news?"

"Good news?!" Mustang snorted. "Don't tell me you're preaching religion."

"And what's wrong with that?! Ed asked defensively. "I've seen the glorious light of divineness and I want to share its wonder with the world!"

"Well nothing's wrong with it - I just never expected you to do something like this- not even in my dream."

"That's the problem with you people!" Ed threw his hands in the air and Mustang caught a glimpse of steel between his right jacket cuff and glove. "You never take life seriously! If you don't start cleaning up your act today - it could have a huge effect on your heavenly rewards tomorrow!"

"I really can't stay Edward." Mustang gave Havoc a tug. "I've got lots to do..."

"Sure. Fine. Walk away from salvation - see if I care." Ed shrugged. "Merry Christmas you scrooge!" He turned to the suit of armor. "Come on Al – let's go fine somebody else to save."

"No brother. I'm not leaving until you give back what you took." The armor folded its arms and stood defiantly.

"What?! Al! Common! What are you talking about?!" Ed laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck.

"What the-" Mustang reached into his pocket for his pocket watch, but all that greeted his finger tips was empty space.

"Fullmetal – give me back my pocket watch this second – or I'll fry you to a cinder." Mustang glared down at the boy.

"Fullmetal?" Ed asked confusedly. "My name's Ed. I don't know how you knew that and I really don't care. All I care about at the moment is how Al screwed everything up!" He directed the last of his sentence at the suit of armor who now sat dejectedly in the snow.

"Stealing isn't right brother – I don't care what you say. Now apologize for lying and give it back."

"Al!" Ed lowered his voice to a frantic whisper "This guy is a state alchemist, and that pocket watch amplifies alchemic reactions!"

"Can't we take a break from being alchemists? Just for awhile. I only want to spend some time with you – I never get to see you anymore. You're always working on some – some stupid experiment!" Al jumped to his feet and started running away, disappearing into a dark ally.

"Al! Wait!" Ed turned back to Mustang, scowling. "Here's your pocket watch mister – I guess that's the closest I'm ever going to get to one."

Mustang watched as Ed disappeared after his brother. After he had vanished into the night Mustang looked down at the watch in his hand. So Elric wasn't a state alchemist. True, Mustang had pulled some strings, but enough to really make that big a difference? He looked back at Havoc, who had fallen into a snow bank.

"Let's get you some place warm." Mustang grumbled as he pulled him up. "I wouldn't even be doing this if I didn't need a drink myself."

After several minutes of walking they reached the doors of a crowded little tavern.

"That's weird..." Mustang muttered. "This place is really buzzing - usually it's pretty quiet..." He pushed open the door and dragged Havoc in. Heavy metal music blared loudly, cigarette smoke hung thick in the air and waitresses dressed in matching outfits carried trays of drinks.

"What happened?!" Mustang asked aloud. "This isn't right!" He pulled Havoc to the bar and set him down on a stool where his sat like a large garden gnome. "Hey!" Mustang waved down a female bar tender in a mini skirt and bikini top. "What's going on here? Where did all these people come from?!" He asked loudly over the drone of the music.

"Hon - This is a quiet night!" The girl laughed. "Can I get you something? We don't take kindly to loiterers 'round here."

"Uh...Just get us something -" He looked over at Havoc, who was still moping. "Strong. My friend's having women troubles." Mustang jerked his head in Havoc's direction. "He could use some distracting."

The girl behind the bar grinned. "I think I know what you mean." She stood on tip toe and waved across the crowed room. "Hey Julie-Ann! Get over here – I've got some work for you to do!"

A brunette came rushing over, expertly weaving her way through the crowd. "Ooo!" She gushed when she reached the bar. "I've never seen you before!" She winked at Mustang and giggled. "Are you new in these parts?" She hopped on to a bar stool next to him and leaned in close. "I'm awfully lonely. I have a huge apartment all to myself on Christmas Eve…" She walked her fingers across Mustang's shoulder and looked adoringly at him, then whispered in his ear; "I get off in half an hour."

"Julie – Over there." The girl behind the bar pointed at Havoc. Julie slouched. "Do I have to? I sorta like this one."

"You have to if you wanna keep your job."

"Aw…" She stood and set off for Havoc – then turned back. "See you in half an hour…?" She asked hopefully.

Mustang shook his head. "I'm dreaming." He laughed. "This is all just a crazy dream – And I make it a point never to get romantically involved with fragments of my imagination."

"Humph!" Julie stamped her foot, then turned back to Havoc and began putting on the same show she had for Mustang.

The doors flew open and a blond girl entered, dragging Ed Elric behind her.

"Stop your complaining Edward! You promised me we'd go out for Christmas and I'm holding you to your word." She threw the boy down at a table by the stage and sat down herself.

"I don't think we should have left Al out there…" Ed sighed. "He looked lonely."

"He'll be fine!" The blond girl waved down a waitress. "We'll have two lobsters please!"

"LOBSTERS?!" Ed shouted.

"Edward! Shhh! People will stare!"

"Let them! I'm not going to order a lobster – not even for you Winry. I don't have enough money to pay for that sort of –"

"Oh okay. Just get me a hamburger then you cheap-skate."

The waitress nodded and left, leaving Ed and the blond girl alone.

"Winry – can I please go check on Al?" Ed asked after a second.

"You take me on a date and then you hang out with your brother?!" Winry asked through phony sobs. "Fine Edward! Be that way! Go check on him and don't come back!"

Ed jumped up, knocking his chair over. "Merry Christmas." He grunted through clenched teeth.

Winry watched him go, and then slumped over her table – this time really crying…