The air was sucked up by the alchemical storm below. Just as the soldiers on the rooftops began to panic, air rushed back over them, filling their lungs. Then they were knocked over a second time with a wave of light that washed over them... or rather through them, roaring and scouring. It was blinding and fast, surrounding and penetrating everything. Then it was gone, leaving in its wake a gentle whispering breeze. Nothing at all like its once mighty self.

It was quiet. Nobody moved. Too afraid to look over the top... too afraid of what they might see below.

Al lay on the ground, trying to reorient himself after the trip from the Gate. He was shaking and took several deep breaths to calm his heart. Once he felt his body was under his control he moved to sit up. Suddenly there was the sound of someone taking in a deep breath. It was long and ragged, as if they had been trapped underwater too long and had just broke through the surface. He got up quickly; a little too quickly. The world spun before him but he remained standing, then hurried over to Edward.

He fell to his knees beside his brother, tears of relief streaming down his face as he watched Edward's chest rising and falling very noticeably. His shirt was stained and looking through the hole Al could see under the dried blood pale flesh, all in one piece. No gaping hole or seeping blood anywhere.

"Edward?" Al said quietly, his voice trembling with relief. Edward's eyes were still closed. Al waited, giving him time to catch his breath. Finally he spoke.

"Al?"

"Yeah?"

"Where is that shithead so I can put a hole through his gut?"

Al laughed as Edward's eyes fluttered open and looked up at his brother. It took him a minute to get Al into focus. "I'm not dead?"

"No," Al said shaking his head. "And you won't be, not for a long time." And he thought he'd been relieved when the war was over and Edward had survived. His emotions were getting the best of him as he lifted Edward and held onto him tightly.

"Shit, when are you going to learn to stop crying for me?" His voice was muffled from having his face pressed against Al's chest.

"Never," Al said smiling as he finally relaxed his grip. "Can you stand?"

"Yeah, I think so," Edward said then tried to push himself up but fell back down. He put most of his weight on his right arm but it wouldn't support him. A strange sensation went up and down his arm. He didn't remember damaging his automail. Then, like a slap in the face, it hit him hard. He realized he shouldn't have felt anything going up and down his right arm.

He tried to lift it. It cooperated but the movement was erratic. He finally got his hand in front of his face and for a minute he forgot to breathe as he just stared at long, pale, feable looking fingers; fingers that were attached to a palm, then a wrist and ...

Al reached over and grabbed his hand. He felt it again; that strange sensation. He could hardly believed what he was seeing. A real hand not made of metal. There was actual skin, over real veins and flesh that covered real bones. He could actually feel the dirt from Al's hand. Now it was his turn to cry.

Al looked at him worriedly. "Brother... are you upset that...?"

Edward shook his head but a huge lump in his throat kept him from saying anything. But he didn't know what to say. There was a time he had wanted his arm and leg back; wanted it desperately. But it wasn't for the sake of being whole once again. The automail was a reminder of his horrible mistake. He wanted to be rid of it because he thought it would erase the mistake somehow. But he grew up. He knew it wasn't that easy to wipe the slate clean. He had come to accept his automail as a part of him, bad mistakes and all. Now, it was gone and with it a part of him. He tried to reason with himself he was being ridiculous; that he was in a state of shock and he would get used to it. He knew he should be grateful but he couldn't. He didn't want to think of it now. He didn't want to hurt Al after everything he had done.

He stiffened when he noticed something. Al's right arm was still around him.

"Al," he said nervously, finally finding his voice. "You didn't give up your arm, did you?"

His brother chuckled. "I forgot all about that."

He eased Edward up until he was sitting on his own. Al then tugged on his metal hand, wincing as it slipped off. It was a long metal sleeve that had gone all the way up his arm.

"What the hell?" Edward said looking at it curiously then back at his brother, wondering how he'd missed such a detail earlier.

"I'll explain later," Al said.

"Sure," Edward said forgetting the metal sleeve and looking at his hand again. His hand. It was still difficult for him to wrap his mind around the fact. "I'd rather you explain how this happened," he said moving his fingers. They responded in quick, jerky movements.

Al looked at him carefully, searching his eyes. He couldn't tell what his brother was thinking. "Are you upset about it?" He asked again.

"I will be if you gave up something foolish just for my arm."

"And leg."

Edward looked up at him sharply. "How? I mean... we were just going to break down the homunculi bodies."

"Well, it was actually a gift from the Gate." Al knew there was more to it than that but he was too tired to really get into the specifics.

"What?!" Edward exclaimed, shocked. "Why?"

"We'll talk about this later," Al urged.

"But I want to talk about it now," Edward said with a stubborn frown.

"Ed, just trust me," Al sighed feeling exhaustion set in. "Everything has been balanced." Edward looked like he wanted to pursue the subject further but he didn't have the chance to.

"Dad?"

Edward and Al both turned and found Richard standing behind them. He was watching Edward as if he were seeing a ghost. Edward realized his son must have seen what had happened to him.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Edward said feeling ashamed of himself. Richard didn't want to leave in fear of never seeing him again and it had almost came true. He cleared his throat so he would sound like it. "I'm fine. Will you help me up?"

As Richard and Al helped Edward, he was glad he did ask for help. His left leg wasn't ready to support his weight. He wobbled a bit, his weak leg wasn't helping and he was slightly dizzy from the whole ordeal. Once he regained his equilibrium he lost his balance again as Richard hugged him tight, almost knocking him over. He patted his son's back, glad he was alive.

As they stood there together, he took a good look around. No homunculi. Even the barriers he and Al had created were gone. There were no signs that an angry horde of immortal beings had ever stepped existed. A huge weight lifted from his shoulders but settled back down with a heavy thud when something caught his eye. Not twenty feet away he spotted Russell cautiously approaching Fletcher, who was watching his brother warily. His anger erupted and he forgot for a moment he wasn't exactly too steady of his feet.

"Al, Richard, get out my way," he said through gritted teeth. "I have unfinished business with that bastard."

Richard and Al turned to look in the same direction as Edward. Richard's face darkened when he spotted Russell, looking very much like his father; angry and on the verge of stepping in for Edward to complete the unfinished business.

"Let them be," Al said. "Russell can be arrested later, Greed has been removed. Give them a chance to talk for a minute."

"I don't see why," Edward growled.

"Edward, it's over," his brother said with a stern edge to his voice. "Leave it and move on."

Edward fumed, looking between Al and Richard, his son avoiding his eyes. He took it to mean Richard agreed with Al. Then he looked back at Russell. He finally relented as Russell tried to help Fletcher up but was rebuffed.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Get me as far away from him as you can."

He turned away with Richard's help. He was glad Fletcher was alright but he couldn't stand the sight of Russell. Too much had happened to make him forget. But he knew Russell would have it the worse. It's hard to live with yourself when you know you've caused so much agony.

"General Elric!"

Edward looked up onto the rooftop of the brownstone. Peering down at him was a grinning Miles, along with all the men stationed on the roof. All around, more soldiers were looking down, scratching or shaking their heads, astounded by the sudden disappearance of the homunculi.

"You gave us quite a scare, Ed," Miles said disposing of formalities.

Edward was torn between being flippant and apologetic. The latter would do for the moment. "Yeah, sorry about that. Why don't you come down and arrest the bastard that nearly killed me."

"Yes, sir," Miles said saluting. "I'm assuming it's safe to approach him."

Edward looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, he'll come quietly." Then he turned to his son.

"Richard," he said with as much disapproval as he could manage while limping along with the aid of his son and Al. "You should be at Briggs."

"I know," Richard said sheepishly. "But I couldn't stand not knowing if you'd return or not," he added in his defense.

"I know those officers wouldn't have turned around and brought you back here."

"Uh, no," he said sounding nervous. "I jumped out and ran back."

Al tried to suppress a chuckle as Edward gave Richard – what he hoped – was fatherly disapproving look. But he couldn't hold it for very long and sighed with resignation. "I was hoping you had more sense than I did at seventeen."

Richard laughed. "I guess not."

"Well, we can hope you at least have better manners."

Al started to laugh along with his brother and nephew but stopped suddenly. "Oh no!"

"What?" Edward asked looking at him with a troubled frown.

He felt like he'd been punched; he couldn't breathe. "I think I might have rendered Mustang powerless," he said his face scrunching up with fear.

"Was he really that powerful to begin with?" Edward snorted in disgust. "That bastard has always been overrated. He's all show..."

"No, Ed. It's something the Gate said." He took a deep breath, his mind working furiously. "But maybe not, Envy isn't accounted for and the Gate did say all of the homunculi... but maybe Greed destroyed Envy and took control of the army..."

"Al, what the fuck are you talking about?" Edward asked, annoyed with his brother's babbling nonsense; at least it was nonsense to him, especially since he was still in the dark regarding how Al managed the technicalities to get his arm and leg back.

"I think I should go back and help," Al announced.

"No," Edward said with the full authority of his rank. They were safe now. He wasn't about to let Al go back into possible danger. "You are not going back there. You've done enough," the words echoed strangely in his ears. "Mustang is a grown man he can take care of himself. He knew the risks."

"But if he can't use alchemy..."

"And why wouldn't he be able to?"

"It was a condition made by the Gate."

Edward froze. "Al, what did you do?" He whispered.

"I guess it can't wait," Al said looking his brother in the eye.