When I walked away from that hospital, I had no idea what would come to pass while I was gone. I hit a bar, deciding that a drink or two would definitely calm my nerves. I needed to think. There had to be sense in this. Edward had always been loyal to me. And he'd never shown THAT kind of interest in his brother before.

What had gone so horribly wrong? Edward had said that his brother had come back from the gate different. Was it possible that he was a homunculus as Edward had said? And if so, was he a sin? Was his soul tainted by a human desire?

Yes, I knew about the sins. Edward had hunted down and destroyed most of them. Others seemed to just fall off the map. But all seven sins had been accounted for. I wondered if they could repeat themselves.

I took a long swig of my drink, pondering my situation. Edward had betrayed me. He had had an affair… with his brother. But he was contrite. He said he was sorry.

I wanted to forgive him. I wanted more than anything to rush back to the hospital and take Edward in my arms, if only just to tell him that I was sorry I'd left. But I knew it couldn't be so.

He had betrayed me. Surely he would have to regain my trust slowly. I would be a fool to rush back to him. How could I know that he wouldn't betray me again the second I took him back? How could I know that when we kissed he wasn't thinking about Alphonse instead of me?

And then it hit me.

Edward had been crying when I found him last night. Edward had been cutting. He was miserable. He was confused and hurt and had lost all sense of reason. And I had left him alone in that state.

I jumped up from my barstool. A disgruntled exclamation came from the bartender as my liquor spilled over the counter. But I paid him no attention. I only thought of one thing.

I couldn't live without Edward.

The thought of him, alone and depressed in a place as cold and unforgiving as a hospital, was enough to make shivers run through me. How could I have been so stupid? What was I thinking, leaving my love to rot in that place? Sure, it had only been for a few minutes… But sometimes the shortest of times can hold the gravest of importance.

Tossing a few bills onto the counter, I fled the scene. I weaved my way through the various pedestrians as I ran faster than I ever had in the whole of my existence on mother earth. The passionate blood that had rushed into my heart served as a motor to the automobile of my body.

Edward needed me. It was my duty as his lover to be there.

The automated glass doors of the hospital divided. I leapt through, skidding along the linoleum tiles as I landed. A passerby cast me a judgmental glance, but no matter. I was only here for Edward. Mere judgements of others no longer mattered.

I surveyed the area. It wasn't long before my eyes fell upon a nurse pacing the corridor. I ran to her and took hold of her by the shoulders, unable to calm my emotions

My gaze meeting her shocked expression, I began to speak. "I need to see Edward Elric." I murmured hoarsely.

Trembling between my fingertips, her voice shook, "I'm sorry Sir, but Mr. Elric is not permitted to see any visitors at this time." Rage boiled my blood and scalded my veins. I unintentionally dug my fingernails into her shoulders.

"I'M A GODDAMN STATE ALCHEMIST. I DON'T NEED PERMISSION!" I shouted. The words were so loud that they pained my throat as they escaped into the air.

Frightened, the nurse surrendered. "Please follow me Sir." She whimpered.

An awkward, tense silence hung in the air as I trailed her down the hallway. We passed stark white room after stark white room- each conforming to the last. However, I still took note that this was not the same route I had taken to my love before. Had Edward been relocated? Why?

A terrible paranoia clung to my heart and chilled my bones to the core.

We turned down another corridor. A sign reading 'Crisis Stabilization Ward' clung to the wall. The panic was spreading throughout my entire body as we advanced down the hall.

Finally, we arrived. Hands trembling, the nurse placed her palms against the door handle. She directed her gaze upon me, sighed, and reluctantly twisted her wrist.

When the door swung open, a small gasp escaped my lips.

There he was, my Edward. A river of tears flowing down his soft, reddened cheeks. The nurse stepped forward, preparing to attend to her patient, but I held her back.

"Go." I whispered hoarsely, "I can take care of this myself."

Salty crystalline tears continued to plunge down Edward's cheeks.

"No!" she cried, "You don't understand, this patient is in dire need of treatment! He's not yet stable!"

"NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I TOLD YOU, I CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS MYSELF!" I shouted.

The Nurse shouted back. "THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT! YOU MAY NOT TOUCH HIM!"

My voice lowered, "An... an accident?" The nurse nodded. I turned to face my bisque lover, "Edward... what happened?"

Edward said nothing. His lips were locked in silence. Our voices appeared to be but white noise to the damaged soul.

I fell into the plastic chair set up at the youth's bedside. Everything was whirling out of control like a Merry-Go-Round of melancholy.

"Please... go..." I murmured. I met her eyes with only good intentions in my own onyx orbs, and finally, she understood that Edward needed me. In my eyes was a silent promise to be gentle with my lover in his delicate state. With a slight nod, she exited. I had gained her trust.

My hand grazed the side of Edward's cheek. Gently I cleared away his tears with my thumb. Slowly, he brought his orbs towards mine.

"Edward?"

"Yes, Roy?"

"I love you. Don't forget it."

An awkward silence fell. Edward sniffled away the last of his tears, but neither of us spoke.

Contemplative, I stared out the window and silently prayed for the blonde's forgiveness. So foolish I had been to abandon him in his time of need. Within the frames of my own mind, I pleaded him to let me back into his heart.

However, I was far too nervous to make such a request aloud. He had every right to be upset with me for acting so childish. How could I have behaved with such immaturity?

"Roy... Let's go home."

The silence had been broken.

Taken aback, I replied, "Love... you know you're ill. I want you to feel better."

"This place makes me feel worse," he stated.

I was torn. Was I to place my lover's desires over his well-being? Of course not. He had to heal. However, he did look paler than before. He had a sickly misery that seemed to cling to his flesh like bark to a tree.

My gut told me this was not a place of healing for Edward.

"Please, Roy..." chirped Edward, more broken sadness welling up in his soft champagne orbs, "I can't bear it any longer."

I caved to his pleas.

Edward gave a little whimper of shock as I scooped him up into my arms bridal-style. His bandaged arms and wrists lay against my chest. My fair-haired lover's lips opened to speak, but I sealed his words with my facial extremities.

Once our lips had been separated, the journey home began. If a panicked nurse stopped us, I merely flashed my state alchemist badge and carried on. I was a government official- I had the right to care for my beloved.

Carrying my lover in my arms down the street attracted the questioning glances of passer-bys. Occasionally Edward would cast me a nervous look. All this attention from strangers was making him feel uncomfortable.

However, I refused to surrender. My Edward was not well and it was my duty to care for him. I held him tighter and pressed onward, shrugging off the awkward stares.

Soon we had returned home.

Returned to the place where the horror began.

I lay Edward upon the crimson velvet of our couch. He tried to stand, but I gave him a gentle push into the soft cushions. "You've had a busy day, Love, you need rest." I murmured.

Naturally, the youth protested, but I halted his cries with a single kiss.

As our lips touched, my love for him re-ignited. I brought my arms around his small, supple, weak frame. Holding him in my arms with our bodies so close... his breathing synchronizing to mine.. his heart pounding in a percussional symphony with my own... I was tempted to go farther.

But no. It wouldn't be right. He was ill.

However, I could feel more love brewing and my desire growing with each passing second.

I stood up. The blonde cast me a look of confusion, almost bewilderment. "I'll make us some tea." I muttered. Then I set off into the kitchen, trying to conceal my lust until it waned away.

"Roy?"

I rotated my skull to take in his facial geography as he spoke.

Edward shifted nervously. His voice quivered as he murmured, "If you ever left me again... I... I just don't know..."

A single tear rolled down his cheek.

"I would die without you."

At this, I finally gave into my temptations.