Roy didn't show up at Alphonse's house until past lunch time. A pang hit his heart as he realized that his mind had called it Alphonse's and not the brothers'. He had slept long past noon, and even still his head was pounding. When he knocked on the door, choosing not to use the key Edward had made for him, it was more him leaning against the doorframe trying not to fall on his ass and his flat hand smacking against the wood than it was actually knocking.

He didn't look up when the door opened. He just followed the pair of feet into the house and in through to the living room. He was mumbling to himself the whole way there about the memories flooding through his brain.

Al had taken pictures every chance he got, and now, they all lined the wall leading through the entrance way, past the kitchen, and into the living room. A lot were of Roy and Edward, but just as many were of Roy and Al or the brothers. When they reached the hallway, Roy looked at the wall and took his time looking at each picture, and the person leading him let him. They never rushed him or demanded he go faster. It wasn't like Alphonse to push anyone like that. He knew Roy would be grieving. The quiet ways about the younger brother was something Roy appreciated. He appreciated having time to reflect on Edward, to remember.

Roy remembered the time at the fair when Edward had insisted he'd be fine eating before going on the spinning ride, how sick his boyfriend had gotten afterwards. He could even hear Edward's voice still. 'I'm not a child, Roy,' Edward had snapped, arms crossed and eyes glaring. 'I can handle myself.' Roy had simply laughed and held his hands up in gesture meant to placate Edward. It had only made him more irate and had prompted him to eat more than he should have. The memory, though bittersweet now, caused a small smile to pull at the edges of Roy's mouth.

Of course, there was also the time, commemorated forever on Al's wall, that Roy and Edward had taken Alphonse out for dinner the first night after Al had gotten over a cold. Al had tried desperately to stay home, insisting that he was still tired and felt weak. Edward hadn't taken no for answer and had picked the younger boy up and carried him out to Roy's car. Al had continued protesting the entire way to the restaurant but stopped after Edward promised to buy him his favorite dessert.

Eventually, Roy couldn't handle any more pictures or memories. It hurt too much to remember everything all at once. Especially with the scent of Edward hanging in the air and permeating Roy's thoughts. So, he continued towards the living room, forcing himself to not look at any more pictures. He stopped at the very last one just before he entered the room, though. It had been taken just before Edward left for his mission on the Drachman border. It was one of Roy and Ed embracing, Edward grinning at the camera. It was the picture taken just after Edward had received his orders to go. Edward had been the one to insist on its being taken. It was how Roy had known that despite how confident they both were in Edward's safe return, a part of Edward still knew the dangers and possibilities. It had told Roy that despite how confident Edward acted, inside he was still scared. Roy wished now that he had been a little less confident in Edward's safe return. He wished now that his internal soldier would have told him not to be stupid, that Edward was still a soldier and that soldiers were always killed even in the easiest of battles. Maybe if he had been less cocky then, it might not hurt as much now.

"That's not true," Alphonse's soft voice told him. "You know it's not. It still would hurt just as much." Roy nodded in silent agreement, not even sure if he had actually spoken aloud without knowing it and Alphonse was replying to him, or if he was just hearing Al's voice in his head. Either way, it was a true statement. Roy sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. He was not going cry. Not here, not now. It wouldn't be helpful to Alphonse, and that was why he was here. Alphonse needed him to be helpful today.

"Sorry 'm late, Alphonse. I had… had a long night." Roy ran a hand over his face, groaning softly. He was in no shape to do this. He probably never would be. He sniffled and stumbled over thin air. The feet in front of him stopped suddenly, and Roy ran headlong into him.

"Roy Mustang, have you been drinking," a very familiar voice demanded. Roy finally looked up, surprise and shock etched on his face. After a minute, he shook his head. He had to be hallucinating. There was no way Edward was standing in front of him, glare in place and arms crossed. Oh, what would he give to have Edward's anger pouring down on him again. Roy closed his eyes for a minute, and when he opened them again, Alphonse was indeed standing there in front of him.

"Sorry, Alphonse. For a moment I thought… The light must be… playing tricks on me. I thought I saw… him. I… might… have been drinking last night… and this morning. 'M sorry." Al's gaze softened as he took in the older man. It wasn't Al's nature to scold when someone was clearly so down. Instead, he bit his lip and shifted.

"Uhm… R-Roy? How about I get you a glass of water, okay? When you're feeling better, we need to talk." Roy's shoulders slumped.

"Yeah. I know," he whispered. He allowed Alphonse to guide him to the armchair and help him sit. He leaned his head against the back, eyes closed. His heart was aching more than he could bear from that split second when he'd thought he'd seen Edward. Al returned with water and pills, both of which he made sure Roy took. After, Roy sighed and put his face in his hands.

"Al, I can't do this. It… It's only been two days. I need… I need some time alone. Please. I'm not ready to… to plan anything."

"No… Roy, I know. That… That's not why I called you. It's uhm… It's a little more complicated than that. Just…" Suddenly, Al cut off as Roy's vision seemed to double, and there, standing next to his brother, was Edward. Roy blinked rapidly, his mind trying to put together what it was he was seeing.

"I… I… What… Edward…?" Roy leaned heavily against the back of the chair, feeling like he was about to faint.

"Roy, it's me."

It was him. Roy couldn't believe it; he didn't trust his own eyes. He pushed himself out of the armchair and moved as if in a trance towards the blond. He was standing there with his arms crossed in front of him wearing a simple pair of slacks and a white button down shirt that was most certainly not Edward, but the rest of him was. Roy reached up and ran a shaking hand through his long hair, pulling it carelessly out of the loose ponytail at the nape of his neck. "It is you," he murmured, putting both hands on the man's strong shoulders and gripping as if he would never let go again.

"Trust me, Roy. I'm as confused as you are," Edward replied, staring hard at Roy's face as if unsure how to act, "Alphonse attempted something… reckless, and now, here I am. Very much alive. Sort of." Roy's mouth gaped open, and strange choking noises escaped. Roy could barely breathe as he listened to Edward.

Edward was talking to him still, but Roy couldn't hear what Ed was saying. It was like the world had suddenly gone on mute. After a minute, it seemed that Edward realized the extent of Roy's distress. He knelt on the floor in front of Roy and took the general's face in his hands. Roy made out his own name on Edward's lips, but he couldn't read anything more. He could see fear creeping into his boyfriend's eyes, and he wanted, needed, to do something to stop that fear. That was a look he never saw on Edward, and he was not prepared to see it now.

"I'm… okay," he heard himself saying. His voice sounded rusty even to himself. He knew Edward wouldn't buy it for a second, so he tried again. "I'm okay… Ed. I'm okay… I'm okay." Edward looked a little less scared now, but Roy couldn't stop repeating himself. He wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure Edward or himself now. Ed took his hands, squeezing tightly. The world's volume turned on just as suddenly as it turned off, and Roy realized that Edward was now trying to take care of him.

"Roy… Roy, stop. It's fine if you're not okay. It's a big shock." Edward sighed. "Look. Why don't you go lay down for a while or something, okay? You… You look really pale." Roy nodded and allowed Edward to pull him to his feet, leading him gently to a guest room. In the back of Roy's mind, something told him that was wrong. He hadn't slept in a guest room at any point during the entire duration of his and Edward's relationship. He had always slept in Edward's room. That thought and all others were gone as soon as his head hit the pillow, though.

When Roy woke up, it was dark and long past dinnertime. He was feeling significantly less overwhelmed and upset now, too. He stretched and groaned, then went in search of Edward and Alphonse. He found Alphonse first.

"Alphonse. Where's Edward? I wanted to talk to him some more. And… just talk."

"Oh. Uhm… He… He went to bed. He's sleeping now. I'm sorry, Roy. I know you want to see him and talk to him, but he… he needs his rest. After… everything that's happened, his body is still… it's still recovering. You can talk to him in the morning. I promise. Oh! You slept through dinner. I can make you something really fast if you're hungry." Roy had known Alphonse long enough to know that he was a rotten liar. Even worse, whenever he was lying he started talking just like this- fast and trying to change the subject with every sentence. Roy let it go this time. He'd found that if Alphonse was lying, he usually had a good reason to. He just hoped that with everything going on, with Edward not actually being dead, that it hadn't changed things between him and Edward.

"Food… Food sounds good. I haven't really eaten much today."

"Right. I'll be right back. You just… sit there on the couch, and I'll bring something to you." Roy obeyed, a slightly amused smile coming to his lips. Al wasn't gone long; he must have had something already set aside for Roy. Roy ate quickly and found himself yawning again. However, he stayed up a while longer just talking with Alphonse. Though, mostly, he was lecturing Alphonse for performing human transmutation. Again. He was sure Edward had already given Al the lecture, but he needed to make sure the sweet, innocent blond never tried it again. When he was sure Al understood just how dangerous it had been, he gave the younger brother a quick hug, bid him a good night, and went back to the guest room. It still felt weird, and he missed sleeping with Edward, but if he had been asked to sleep here, then he would.