I really, really don't enjoy saying this, but…this is the last chapter. For real, this time. There'll be an epilogue, yeah, but it's short. I had really intended for this story to at least hit twenty chapters, but something happened. Not entirely sure what, though. The epilogue will probably go up later today or sometime tomorrow. I kind of feel like crying. I've grown so attached to this story, but here it is, the last official chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

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It was still dark when Roy and Ed made it back to the house. What had felt like the longest night of Roy's life had been, in fact, only a few hours. But those few hours were exhausting to the both of them. Roy had, for the most part, shut off his brain and was walking on autopilot. Ed was so drained that Roy had thought for awhile that he'd have to carry him the rest of the way back. Neither spoke.

"Thank heavens," Gracia said with tears in her eyes as the two came inside. She wrapped her arms around Ed and ran her fingers through his hair like he was a little kid. He didn't protest. He was too tired.

Roy thought they must have looked a mess. He knew Ed did, and a quick glance into the mirror told him he wasn't any better off. His clothes were ruined, his face looked like he'd had a cat get very upset with him, and he knew that that color red could not be good for his eyes. But they were alive.

Roy watched as Gracia fussed over Ed, her maternal instincts on full force. In a matter of minutes, she had in stripped down to his boxers and was taking care of even the tiniest of cuts she found. To a stranger's eyes, Gracia probably would have looked like Ed's mother getting carried away over a few scratches. Ed looked at Roy, his eyes pleading for help. Roy smiled sympathetically and stepped outside before Gracia could turn on him.

He stood outside for a good ten minutes, finally getting to enjoy the cool air, before Hughes made it back. He didn't look any better off than Roy.

"Did you find him?" Hughes asked, completely out of breath.

"Yeah," Roy answered. He contemplated whether or not he should tell Hughes about Ed's…he didn't even want to think the words…suicide attempt. It was only fair that he knew, but how does one go about telling another something like that?

"How is he?"

"He tried to kill himself." There, plain and simple.

Hughes grimaced but said nothing. It wasn't that big of a surprise. It had been their greatest fear, after all.

"Other than that?" Hughes asked.

"Fine. I stopped him before he did anything. He's got a few scratches from running, same as us. Gracia's taking care of him right now, but I think she might be getting a little carried away."

"She was worried," Hughes answered as he went inside. Roy followed. Ed was nowhere to be seen.

"I sent him to bed," Gracia said, answering the unasked question. "Poor boy's exhausted."

"We all are," Hughes said, sitting down at the table next to the seat Roy had taken. After filling up three glasses of water, Gracia joined them. Roy downed his glass in seconds wishing he had something stronger. "What happened?"

"I told you," Roy answered, slightly annoyed. "Ed tried-"

"No, I don't mean in the woods. I mean, what happened to make him run off like that?"

Roy couldn't help but pick up on the slight accusing tone in Hughes's voice, but after looking at his weary face, he wondered if he'd only imagined it.

"He'd probably been planning it all day," Roy answered. He suddenly became very interested in a gnat crawling across the table.

"So you didn't say anything that might have made him mad, even unintentionally?"

"Look, all I did was ask him why he'd been wandering around in the woods by himself earlier. I was worried. I thought…I thought he might have seen…"

"Kayt?"

"Yeah…"

"It was nobody's fault," Gracia said. "Deep down, we all knew it was going to happen eventually. We're past it now, and it's up to us to help him recover."

"I think we've proven we're incapable of that," Hughes said, swirling around the water in his glass. "Maybe we should think of hiring a professional?"

"I think that's up to Ed," Roy said. "We've already forced enough on him."

With nothing more to say, everyone decided it was time for bed. Hughes and Roy cleaned themselves up a bit first before turning in.

Roy entered the bedroom as quietly as he could. From the moonlight pouring in through the window, Roy could make out Ed's figure curled up in bed. He was already asleep. His deep, heavy breaths gave that away. He looked so peaceful.

'We're lucky to still have him,' Roy thought as he sat down on his own bed. 'If I'd been even a second later…But it's my fault for letting it get that far. He was supposed to be my responsibility. I was supposed to take care of him. If I'd just done my job right, none of this would have happened.'

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The Next Morning

Ed was still asleep when everyone got up for breakfast. No one bothered him.

"How come everyone's so quiet?" Elysia asked as everyone ate.

"Because Edward's still asleep, dear," Gracia said. Both men kept their eyes on their plates, neither really bothering to eat.

"You should wake him up," Elysia said cheerfully. "Doesn't Daddy always say it's not good to sleep so late?"

"It's okay today," Gracia answered.

"Why?"

"Ed's…not feeling well."

"Is he sick?"

"Sort of."

"Does he need medicine? I could be his doctor!"

"Right now, he just needs some rest so I want you to be quiet while you're inside, okay?"

"Okay."

Hughes and Roy were grateful that Elysia had stopped asking questions. There was never an easy way to describe a suicide attempt to a three-year-old child.

After breakfast, the Hughes family went outside while Roy returned to his room to pack. They'd decided to end the vacation early and leave later that afternoon. No one but Elysia had any objections. They hated having to leave so early, but none of them felt they could have any fun for the remaining two days. The last two vacation days would have to be spent some other way.

Roy entered the room quietly, expecting Ed to be asleep, but Ed's eyes were open. He was lying down and staring at the ceiling. A blink was the only response to Roy's entrance.

"You can sleep longer if you want," Roy said, shutting the door behind him. "No one's going to bother you."

"I'm fine," Ed answered not breaking his gaze. The scene reminded Roy way too much of the hospital room. He started absentmindedly throwing his things in his suitcase. "Going somewhere?" Ed asked shifting his gaze to the suitcase.

"We…decided we're going to leave this evening."

"…So I ruined the trip."

"No!" Roy rubbed his neck. What was he supposed to say?

"Whatever," Ed said, returning his gaze to the ceiling.

Normally, this is where the conversation would have ended. Ed not providing any helpful information, and Roy just trying to avoid a major fight. Both would be happy that it was over and that no harm was done this time. But this time, things were different. Roy cursed himself for it, but he had to try.

"Edward," he said sternly. He closed his suitcase and sat down on the bed, making sure his full attention was on Ed. Ed, startled by the sudden change in tone, sat up and looked at him. "I know I'm not your favorite person in the world. In fact, I don't doubt that you hate me, but right now, you're my responsibility. Right now, I'm supposed to be the parental figure. Not Maes, not Gracia, and not anyone else. I may not have volunteered for the job, but I did accept it so it's time I started acting like a parent. And right now, we need to talk."

There was a moment of silence.

"Okay."

His answer was genuine. It was far from enthusiastic, but there wasn't even the slightest hint of sarcasm.

"Now," Roy said a bit softer, having already jumped the biggest hurdle, "you have to promise me that no matter what I say, you'll listen. You have to promise that you won't run, and promise that you'll answer me truthfully. Promise?"

"…Promise."

"This won't be easy to talk about, but I need to know. I don't fully believe what you told Lieutenant Hawkeye. Tell me exactly what happened to Al."

"But I did tell her the truth! I told her everything!"

"You promised you'd answer me truthfully, Ed. Just tell me this, was Kayt involved?" Ed looked frightened and startled. "Yes, I remember what happened when you were six. I remember Kayt. Was Kayt involved?"

"Y-yes."

"Did Kayt tell you to kill Al?"

"S-she said…all I ever made him do was worry, and he'd be better off dead…"

"Did you believe that?"

"…N-no."

"Has Kayt ever told you not to talk to any of us?"

"Yes…"

"When?"

"All the time…"

Ed tried to break eye contact, but with Roy's vision fixed on him, he couldn't bring himself to. He started breathing heavier, and his eyes kept darting from Roy to the door and back again. He wanted so bad to run, but he'd promised.

"This one's important," Roy said more serious than ever. "Did Kayt tell you to try and kill yourself?"

"Why don't you just go die! See if I care!"

"…Yes. She might as well have…"

"Last question. Who's in control?"

Ed didn't answer. He finally broke the gaze and stared at the sheets he'd been squeezing.

"Think about it."

He left without waiting for a reply. Ed just felt numb.

"Kayt…" Ed whispered.

"Yes?" came response from the corner of the room. For once, Ed wasn't startled by her appearance. He'd known she'd come. He'd wanted her to.

"Sit down," Ed said gesturing toward Roy's bed. Kayt looked startled that Ed was the one giving the orders, but she obeyed.

"Did you want something?" She waited until he was about to answer to speak again. "Oh, and I wanted to congratulate you! I'm so happy that you and Mr. Colonel had a such a great bonding moment last night!"

Ed wondered vaguely for a second if Kayt was bipolar before remembering that he was the one that was supposed to be speaking.

"Shut up, it's my turn to talk." After the initial startle, Kayt huffed and crossed her arms looking rather pissed. "I want to know what your deal is. Why are you always spying on me? Why are you always telling me to do things?"

"Haven't you figured it out yet? I'm the one in control."

"Who's in control?"

"I've always been the one in control."

"Who's in control?"

"And I always will be the one in control."

"Think about it."

"No…"

"What?"

"You're wrong. You may have used to been the one in control, but not anymore! It's my life, and I'll live it however I want to!"

"You can't live without me!" Her face scrunched up, and she gritted her teeth, daring Ed to answer.

"…You're not real."

Anger turned to confusion.

"W-what?"

"You're not real," Ed said with more confidence. "Prove me wrong."

A sad smile came across Kayt's face. "I'd hoped I could spend more time with you…but you don't need me anymore."

"Need you?" Ed asked, all anger gone from his voice.

"I wanted to make you feel better after your dad left. I wanted to help you forget him. Things got out of hand."

"You never said if you were real or not."

"I should be going. You were right. You can cope with things fine on your own. Truth is, you're a lot better off without me. You won't see me again."

She smiled one last sad smile and walked out the door. Ed ran over and looked out, but she was gone.

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"Are we ready?" Hughes asked as he shut the trunk. Gracia emerged from the house with Elysia after checking to make sure nothing was left behind.

"You got everything, Ed?" Roy asked. Ed nodded.

"Guess we should hit the road then if we want to make it home before it gets dark."

"Wait," Roy said, slight urgency in his voice. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it?" Hughes asked, his eyes darting momentarily to Ed who was helping Elysia into the car.

"I think Ed should go home with you."

Ed's head shot up at the mention of his name, narrowly missing the top of the car.

"Why?"

"I think he'd be better taken care of with you." Hughes picked up on the sadness in his voice.

"What do you think, Gracia?" Hughes asked turning to his wife.

She shrugged. "We have an extra bedroom."

"Then I guess-"

"No," Ed said softly. It had been the first word he'd said since his conversation with Roy (and unknowingly to them, his conversation with Kayt).

"What do you mean 'no'?" Hughes asked.

"I want…I want to go home with Roy."

Roy smiled. Not the usual smug smile he kept on his face, or a sad or sympathetic smile. A genuine smile.

"Then, let's go home."

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The end. Seriously, this time that was the end. Well, excluding the epilogue, but that will probably only be a few paragraphs at most. Now, I'm tired. It's five in the morning. I've been writing all night. I've neglected eating anything. All in all, I quite enjoyed writing that chapter. Ed called Roy's house his home, and he called him Roy! Happy, happy! Wasn't originally supposed to be a happy ending.

Important information: Now, to the number one question of the story. Everyone's wondered about her. It's Kayt. I've had some conversations with some of you about her, but for those that I haven't, here's the deal. Ed had schizophrenia. Shocker? Or were there enough clues? Out of the people I've talked to personally, only one person figured that out without my help (at least, only one said it out loud). Kayt manifested because Ed went into shock about his dad leaving. Her purpose was to try and protect Ed, but she let things get out of hand. Waaaaaay out of hand. I hope that clears up some questions. If you have anymore, I will answer them to the best of my ability. After I get some sleep.

Next time will be the short epilogue and a big thank you to all my wonderful readers and reviewers. Until then!

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