Woot! This chapter is just a little building chapter that leads up to the story of how I feel FMA should have ended. And I imagine my ending makes a little more sense, and it helps to retain mine and ShadowClouds sanity...stupid other side of the gate. ¬¬

Here you go, hope you like it!

Sorry for the late update, I'm getting evicted and I'm having trouble with writing. But it's well worth the wait. It's so cute, Al has one of those random perverted thoughts in this one! Hehe. I know you'll like this one ShadowCloud!

Chapter 19 - Memories at the End
Al woke up and checked around his bed frantically, he was in no danger what so ever. He had a dream that caused him to wake with a start, and even a little bit of a stomach ache. His mind was still not use to dreaming; being awake for four years straight seemed to have a bad effect on his sleep habits. Slowly his mind and body were returning to normal, but this transition period was beginning to bother him.

Shaking it off he decided it was time to wake Edward from his ever present 'perfect sleep habit'. But upon checking his brothers bed, it was empty. He was there when he came upstairs the previous night. Al raised an eyebrow; had he managed to get up before him once again? Paying it no mind, he got up and stood at the side of his bed and stretched his arms high above his head and yawned loudly. Slumping back down he rubbed the sleep form his eyes and headed for the door. Opening it, he stepped out into the upstairs hallway.

Closing the bedroom door behind him, he checked the clock that hung beside the stairs. It read at ten after ten. Apparently he had overslept again. Maybe that was the reason Ed was getting up before him, Al had been sleeping a great deal lately. He ignored it and looked toward the spare bedroom next to Pinako's room. The door was closed; curiosity got the better of him and he walked up to it.

Aria was sleeping in this room. He smiled and placed his hand on th door knob, but stopped short. He thought for a moment. 'Should I knock? Or should I just proceed with caution...?' If he knocked he might wake her if she was still asleep, but if he just went in it might make him look like he was peeping on her. "..." Reluctantly, he knocked. There was no answer. Considering he knocked first, it was now safe to enter without fear of being labeled a perv.

"Aria?" He peeked his head around the edge of the door. To his surprise, she was still in bed, sound asleep. Apparently she was a heavy sleeper; when he thought about it, Winry was the same way growing up, he found it amusing. "Hm-hm." He snickered to himself and approached the side of her bed and knelt down. "Hey Aria...wake up." He placed a hand on her shoulder, and gave her a light nudge. "It's after ten, you should get up..." He nudged her again. This time, with success. Her eyes flickered open.

"Hnnn...Aru?" She sounded tired, she shifted beneath the covers. "Mmm...hey Al...Goodmorning." She said, still under the covers. Once again she shut her eyes.

Al smiled. "Come on, you can't stay in bed all day."

She opened her eyes again and this time, she actually sat up, the covers wrapped around her chest and under her arms. "I know...I'm no good at waking up." She smiled; she tilted her head upward and sniffed the air. "I smell breakfast..."

Al copied her actions, sure enough, he could smell bacon being made downstairs. "I guess that explains why Ed's up. Come on, let's get something to eat." He stood up and extended a hand to her.

She smiled in return. "Mind if I got some cloths on first?"

Al's smile turned to a look of embarrassment. "You're not dressed?" He asked shyly.

The red haired girl shook her head. "It was kind of warm last night, I didn't bother with the nightgown."

Al frantically turned on his heel. "I, am so very, very sorry." He shielded his eyes, just in case his peripheral vision cause him to peek. His face was hot with blush.

Aria blushed a little herself. "It's OK. You go downstairs, I'll get dressed and be right down."

Al nodded. "K..." he left the room, a slight hurry in his step. Closing the door he practically had to catch his breath. 'She wasn't wearing anything...ho gosh...' He composed himself took a deep breath, quickly he dislodged any naughty images in his head. Yes, even that one of her wearing just the cat ear headband; Al shook his head quickly from side to side. He didn't think that girls slept without clothing on, he was rather shocked. Al was a little naive like that though, his innocence was unsurpassed by most, though he did have a tendency to slip up every now and again.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and headed down the stairs and around the corner to the kitchen door. He saw his father going back and forth between the stove and the counter, cooking and preparing food. "Dad? You're the one making breakfast?"

Hohenheim didn't look up form what he was doing. "Yeah...I figured I would. I was kind of hungry, and it would be rude to make myself something without making something for everyone else." He paused and turned around. "Your brother still likes bacon right?" Al nodded. "Good. I figured it would draw him down here just like it did when he was younger." He then continued with breakfast.

Al could tell his father was trying really hard to make amends for what leaving, he thought it was really nice. Ed hated cooking, so making him breakfast seemed like a nice enough thing to do. He may have left them for a great deal of time, but he never forgot about them and how they were. Take in mind, since he had left, Al had changed a lot. He wasn't a baby anymore. Alphonse only had a couple of rather hazy memories form when he was there, but that was all. Shortly thereafter, his father had left. Al was about three at the time.

"So I take it Ed isn't up yet." Hohenheim placed some toast in the oven to keep warm as he turned to face his youngest. "Hmm?"

"Oh, uh?" Al thought for a moment. "He wasn't in bed...I figured he was up already."

Hohenheim glanced out the window. "Do you think he might have went somewhere?"

Al shrugged. "Not sure." He then heard some footsteps behind him. Upon facing the stairs he saw that Aria had come down to eat.

"Good morning Aria." Hohenheim greeted her. "Are you hungry?" She nodded. "You can start eating if you like."

She smiled. "Sure." With that, she decided to gather up some food from the oven that had been prepared already.

"Why not." Al headed over and followed Aria. Hohenheim had heated the oven up to keep the food inside warm for when everyone decided to actually get up. "It's been a while since I've have breakfast, almost a week now." He sat down at the table and dug right in. Gracia made breakfast, but it was earlier in the morning for Elicia, she had to go to school, so eating first thing in the morning was important. The four older guests seemed to like to sleep in, so they missed out all week.

Aria smiled. "You must be thankful that you have your body back." She took a bite of her food. "Mmm, cause this is delicious." She saw that Al nodded in agreement; then looking over at Hohenheim. "Thank you."

"No problem." The older man smiled. He really thought Aria was a sweet girl, and fun to talk to as well. "Hmm..." Aria looked at him again. "You know..."

"What?" Aria questioned shyly.

"...'Crowly' was your husband's last name right?" Aria nodded. "...that's Trisha's maiden name." Hohenheim stated just out of the blue. Al seemed surprised too.

"Really? Do you think there's a relation?" Aria was shocked to hear that. From what she heard from Ed and Al about Trisha, their mother, she was kind and loving, there was no possible way that he could be related.

"Probably not..." He sat down at the table, a cup of coffee in his hands. "I just thought it was interesting." Just then, they could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. A soft pat on the floor and then a clunk, and then another pat followed by yet another clunk. It obviously was Edward, his automail had given him away.

"Morning." Ed yawned and stretched.

"Morning brother...where were you? You got up before me again." Al questioned, it was the second time in a row that it had happened.

"Oh, sorry, I was just in the bathroom." Ed smiled as he turned his gaze toward the lovely smell of bacon coming form the oven. "Is Pinako home?"

"No." Al began. "Dad actually made breakfast for us."

Ed was shocked. He gave his father a look and then he stood up. "Really?" Ed recalled the time way back when he was a kid; their mom had been sick in bed and Hohenheim got up really early to make sure they all got fed and off to school. From what it smelled like, it was the same thing he had made last time. It was a good memory for Ed to recall, he didn't have all that many.

"Ed?" Hohenheim caught his attention.

"Uh...thanks..." Ed thanked him, a little guilt in his voice. He treated his father so badly, yet here he was, eating food that he prepared for him. Though Ed didn't feel he should have eaten it, he didn't want to make his father feel bad about making it for nothing. 'Wait!' Ed thought about it. 'Why should I care?...' He sighed and gathered up half the food that was left; Winry hadn't come downstairs yet, so the last of it was for her.

"It's really good Dad." Al munched on an egg and smiled.

"It always was..." Ed followed up, a shy low tone in his voice.

Al smiled, maybe his brother was beginning to warm up to his father. He had his body back, everyone was together and happy, why not forget and forgive. Though he really didn't know what his brother was thinking, he was really hoping that's what it was.

"If it wasn't for you Dad, I wouldn't be eating this right now." Al beamed happily.

Aria swallowed a bite of toast. "Oh yeah, you never did get around to explaining how you came to get your body back." Aria looked at Al, he had a happy smile on his face, but upon hearing those words spoke, the smile faded.

"Yeah...we didn't did we." Al lowered his head slightly. He placed his fork down on the table. "I guess we could tell you now, before we head out to the city...Ed?" He looked at his brother who had already finished off his plate.

"I don't see why not...but wait for Winry." Ed thought for a moment. "Actually...I'll go get her." Ed rose form his spot and disappeared around the corner.

Aria seemed a little hurt. "You know...if it's too much, you don't have to say anything."

Al shook his head. "I don't mind...and besides, I think Winry might want to know as well...it's best we tell you now. An--" Al was cut off by the sound of the front door opening. "Huh?" The three of them turned to see non other than Pinako standing in the doorway. "Good timing."

She was a little confused. "Good timing for what." She held her pipe firmly in one hand and her suitcase in the other. "I don't see Edward...is something wrong?" She questioned the young blond boy.

"No." He answered. "We were just about to tell the story of how I got my body back."

Pinako smiled. "I never did figure out what happened. I just let it go. I'll count my blessing when I get them..." She looked over at the young girl sitting at the table. "Aria was it? How was your stay last night?"

Aria smiled. "It was great. Very comfortable. Thank you for having me."

Pinako smiled that sweet old lady smile of hers as she bit down on her pipe. "Think nothing of it. I'm not about to let Al's first little sweetheart sleep out in the cold."

Al blushed. "Hehe." He laughed a little. They weren't sweet hears as of yet, but he knew he had a chance.

Aria smiled and giggled a little. "Alright then."

"So did you leave any of the bacon for me?" They could all hear Winry's voice from around the corner.

"Of course." He snickered. Really, he only left her two pieces. Ed was rather greedy when it came to his bacon, but he left her an extra piece of toast instead.

"Good." Hohenheim began as he watched Ed and Winry enter the kitchen. "We might as well get this all out while everyone's here." Everyone found a spot to sit and listen. "Where do we begin?" He turned his attention toward his oldest. "Ed?"

"Let's see here...everyone already knows how Al and I ended up the way we did...Mmm...we might as well start from when the Philosopher stone was created." Ed sat up straight. "Since Al's memories are few and far between, I'll fill in this bit." Ed cracked his neck.

Ed told the entire story of how they came to be at the point where Al was the Philosopher's stone, all about Scar, the Homunculus, Holy Mother Rose, Dante, the whole nine. Ed continued. "As things kept on happening, we found ourselves in the underground city that use to be Central. Al had been taken there after being kidnapped by Envy. That's when I was finally able to confront that bastard myself."

"Show me what you really look like!" Ed proceeded to punch Envy in the face once more, ever so dominantly perched over him beating him down.

"You really wanna' see?" Envy gave an evil smirk. "Fine!" There was a quick flash of light and Envy's face changed just before Ed could land another punch. He no longer had his long greenish hair and that snotty, arrogant look on his face.

Ed's heart dropped, he couldn't believe his eyes. "You're his son..." Just then, Edward felt a sharp pain in his chest, not just any sort of pain, a deadly kind of pain. His eyes sunk down to see that Envy's face looked like his own, like his own father too.

"Envy was the very first Homunculus created by Hohenheim over 400 years ago from our son who died prematurely of mercury poisoning." Dante stated, the young Ravi held tightly in her arms. "You could say...Envy's like your older brother." She smiled wickedly.

Before Ed could make another move, the pain that was in his chest turned to a stabbing pain. He looked down to see none other than Envy's arm changed into a large sharp spike and was driven right through his stomach. "Auu...uh..." No words could escape his lips, he knew what had happened, and it was too late to do anything about it. He could then feel the blood, his blood, pour out and around his waist and onto the floor.

Envy pushed Ed off of himself and removed the spike from the young boy. "Ha...I always hated being second best." Envy shook off the excess blood and walked away from Edward, who was now bleeding profusely on the floor.

'Al...Alphonse...I...' He could only mouth the words, nothing more. His vision blurred, went dark and he slowly slipped away, slipped away from everyone, his brother, his friends, everyone in the world. And at that moment, Edward Elric, was dead.

"Brother?" Al's voice rang out in disbelief through the silence.

For crying out loud! IT'S DONE!
Woot!

Like I said, sorry for the late update. I was stuck at the end of the chapter and it just wouldn't finish. Luckily for me, I wrote a oneshot and magically, I can write this again. It's weird how it works.

Anyhow, tell me what you think! I'm dying to know. (hehe...dying...hehe, get it?) I've been itching to write this bit for a while now, so now that I finally get to get it all out and share it is a big treat for me. I can't wait!!! XD

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate your reviews! They really help!