Ed stared as Mustang slowly walked into the little home. His golden gaze never left the dark-haired man as he made his way towards the group of his friends talking with Al.

"Evening, Fullmetal." Mustang smirked as he gave Ed a sideways glance.

Ed gave a quick snort of annoyance as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes again. "I didn't think you'd show Mustang."

"Now why wouldn't I show up to an occasion such as this Fullmetal?" he asked Ed whilst looking directly into his golden eyes. "You don't really think that I'm that much of a bastard that I wouldn't even show up to see your brother's true body? Or that I wouldn't come to congratulate you?"

Ed took a moment, and just stared back into Mustang's black eyes. His jaw clenched for a split second before turning into a smirk. Eyes closed and hands placed comfortably behind his head he responded, "Well, you have been known to surprise me before."

Roy gritted his teeth, "I thought you would know me a little better by now Edward. After all that we went through..." he began to trail off, eyes darkening, "I'm just a little disappointed in you."

After a moment of Ed not responding to his words, he turned to leave. Ed still sat comfortably as he listened to Mustang's rubber clad footsteps slowly fade away to the other side of the room. He lazily opened one of his eyes to make sure no one was looking at him. He gave a sigh of relief when he knew everyone's full attention seemed to be fixated on Al. He didn't need anyone staring at him right now. Too many thoughts were whirling around his mind. "Fine, maybe Mustang wasn't the complete bastard he made him out to be, but why would the guy be disappointed in him? They always communicated with one another this way. Through argumentative words and conversation." Ed bit back a snarl as he continued to think. "More importantly, why did he even care? And since when did Mustang's opinion matter to him at all?" He clenched his automail fist in frustrated confusion before slowly exhaling. He needed to calm down. Tonight was about Al's safe return, and friends congratulating him for being the one who helped his little brother back to his true self.

He cursed himself for being so stupid and ungrateful earlier. The way he laid out solitary in the grass, ignoring the world. How could he do that after all he went through with Al? How could he not be spending time with him? What type of brother was he if he just abandoned Al after all those years of working and trying to discover a way to get themselves back to normal? True, Ed didn't succeed with himself, but he did what he truly intended to do in the first place; get Al's body back.

For the first time in a while, he smiled to himself. Why had it taken this long for it to sink in? He truly was overjoyed to have gotten Al back to normal. He actually couldn't believe he finally had done it. They really did it; together.

Ed stretched before standing up. He looked over at the happy group of people he called friends. Everyone wore a smile on his or her face as laughter erupted in a deep bellow from Armstrong. Apparently it was contagious because Ed found a smile spreading across his lips. And after a moment of admiring, he made his way over to the group.

"Now guys, I know you're not gonna give Al all the attention right?" Ed smirked as he stood just outside of the group and motioned towards Al with his automail arm.

All the voices in the room burst out with even more volume and laughter than they had seconds before. And collectively they all gave Ed a group hug. "Oh all right stop it! Enough! You're gonna suffocate me!" Ed managed to say through all the bodies surrounding him. One by one they let go until only Hughes was left.

"Edward," he began as he placed his hand on Ed's shoulder and held eye contact, "we're all so proud of you. We always knew you boys would figure out a way to get Al back to normal." He smiled. "And guess what you're mission is to do now?"

Ed looked up at Hughes warily, "...mission?"

Hughes continued to grin largely at Ed and said, "You're mission Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, is to take a break. Rest. You deserve it. All of us can see how exhausted you are. As well as Al. And when you're feeling like you have finally recovered, then, and only then, can you return to active duty."

Shock flickered in Ed's eyes. He hadn't expected to be allowed a leave for as long as he needed. He expected to be dragged back into the military with no break. A relieved sigh escaped his body, "thanks Hughes. I needed this."

"No problem at all Edward!" he grinned. Maes then looked around the room of all the familiar faces. Winry, Al, Mustang, Hawkeye, Breda, Falman, Havoc, Miss Pianako, Armstrong, Ed, and his beautiful family. He shut his eyes for a brief second, and opened them as he said, "Well now that Edward is finally here we can officially get this celebration under way! Miss Pinako! Is the cake ready?"

Ed looked expectantly in Granny's direction as she answered Hughes' question.

"Yes Mr., Hughes, I believe the cake is finally done." she smiled. "Let me go ice it and then we can dig in."

"Thank you!" he turned back to the group, "well, let's continue out chatter while we wait." he beamed.

Ed was relieved to get the spotlight off of him. He relaxed his shoulders a bit and looked at the people around him. His eyes stopped on Roy. He stood, and was completely mesmerized. He drank in Mustang's features. Those pitch black eyes, with the dark hair to match. His strong jaw, and seemingly muscular build. Thoughts began to flood his mind before reality set in and Ed realized Mustang noticed he was staring. He had been caught red-handed, but he wasn't going to let Mustang say anything about this. So he quickly averted his gaze over to Al. His little brother, who bore a striking resemblance to himself. Ed smiled. He missed those warm eyes, and joyful smile. He had missed the sound of Al's voice so that it didn't sound like it had a metal tone to it.

Al finally tore his eyes away from Winry for a moment to return Ed's smile. He seemed relieved that Ed was finally smiling himself. Nothing was going to ruin this night. Everything was perfect.

The smell of the freshly baked cake drifted by Ed's nose, and as if hypnotized he followed the scent to the kitchen. Ed wasn't even halfway there before a loud bang occurred joined with a flash of alchemy. Screams echoed in the small building as Ed whipped around to see what had happened.

A gaping hole was now in the wall right where Al and Winry had been sitting. Everyone was on the floor. Ed frantically looked around for Winry and Al. He found Winry, but no Al.

"AL? ALPHONSE! Where are you?" Ed yelled distressed.

Mustang groaned as he tried to get back on his feet. "Ed..."

"Where's Al Mustang? Where is he?" Ed screamed as he grabbed Mustang by the collar.

"He's gone Ed. They took him."