A/N: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or Harry Potter.

Almost a Home
Phase 1.

The music played softly in the background. It was mellow compared to the thundering, crashing music that was so prevalent in these times, yet powerful in its own right. There were the rising crests and the falling trills of the violent; the deep bass of the guitar amp echoing through the restaurant, supporting the entire orchestra. Then, a solitary clarinet, playing through intricate melodies both high and low pitched, yet still melding its voice to the rest. And yet, more than anything else, it felt real. Al could feel the music; he could –

"So." An awkward voice broke into the silence that had encompassed the table. "Got any other plans for tonight?"

Al had to contain his sigh. Jean Havoc of this world didn't have the patience for classical music. For that matter, he wasn't sure the Havoc they had known back in Amestris had appreciated it either. Maybe if there was a woman beautiful enough for him...

He had to suppress a snicker this time. In both worlds, Havoc, no Jean, had trouble when it came to women.

"Nope." This time is was Brother, cheerily answering back. "No plans at all. Right, Al?"

"None," Al agreed easily, and Jean got that contemplative look that really meant he had actually been planning this all along.

"Hey, you know," he started casually, "a few of my friend and I were planning to see a movie later –" But he stopped when Ed began choking on his water, a frown replacing the friendly look on his face moments earlier. "What's so funny about that?"

"You –" A hacking cough. "– You brought us here to ask us to come with you to the movies? Come on, Jean, restaurants like this aren't cheap." And Ed wasn't making that bill any smaller, Al noticed, eyeing the stacks of plates in front of his brother.

But to both of their surprise, instead of shrugging it off modestly or even boasting at how it was nothing to him (which actually would have been more surprising, considering Jean worked at a department store), his face turned bright pink and his bottom lip started to wobble. Clearly, something was wrong.

"It – it was a –" His words turned into an incoherent babble and the other two leaned in, trying to hear.

"What happened?" Al tried to ask gently, but Jean instead burst into long chocked, wretched sobs. Many of the restaurant attendants had begun giving them strange looks.

"Hey, Jean, it's okay," Ed started to say, hands raised in an attempt to force calm. "You don't have to –"

"IT WAS FOR A GIRL AND SHE DUMPED ME!" he wailed. The two brothers leaned back in their chairs at the sudden shockwave of sound and shared startled glances.

It was going to be a long day.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

Three terrible, agonizingly long hours later, they were walking out of the movie theaters. Only one of Jean's friends had come along to share in the misery of watching a sappy love story with a soggy, tear-filled Jean Havoc clinging to their shirts. Apparently, he was his roommate and had to take care of him.

Jean was a good, nice guy, but sometimes, it was just a little too much.

"Hey, I'm sure you'll find another girl," Brother said, awkwardly trying to comfort him. Al joined in a moment later.

"Brother's right! You're a nice guy; no one can resist you for long." A few moments later, and tear-ridden eyes looked up to the brothers in what could only be called a puppy face.

"You think so?" he said, and when they nodded, he seemed to cheer up considerably. "Thanks!" He grinned. "You know, this is what I like about you two. And, uh," he paused, looking sheepish for a moment, "Sorry about the movie. It was kind of cheesy, wasn't it?" Ed let out an easy laugh, his relief obvious.

"Yeah, it really was. Next time, you let me pick." Al made a face.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea, Brother." He could see Ed roll his eyes.

"Oh, come on, Al. I know I've got better taste than that klutz anyway." He titled his head to Jean, but there was a grin on his face.

"Hey! I'm not a klutz!" Jean protested indignantly, but his "friend," Alex, chose that moment to betray the blond.

"Sure you are, Jean. Remember that time when you crashed into that doorway with the cart?" Jean's open mouth was enough to prove that this was no fictuous story.

"Alex –! You know what, forget about anything I said about you guys being nice." He humphed and turned around, walking away from us. "I'm going home!" He called out, almost like a rebellious teenager. Alex gave the brothers an apologetic glance and chased after him.

"Sorry, I gotta go before he locks me out of the flat," he said, and left the two alone in the street. For a moment, Al stared after them. And then...

"I'm just glad he didn't take us to another concert." He heard a badly-stifled snort of laughter from Ed.

"Yeah, you ran out pretty quickly after that. 'A butchery of music', right?" Brother lifted his fingers as if to put it in quotation marks, and Al mock glared at him.

"It was! I don't even know how I can hear after that –" But now Ed was laughing, and the affront act fell all too easily and Al found himself laughing alongside Ed. It took a few minutes for it to die out, every look at each other's face only inspiring more fits of laughter.

When they were finally on their way again, back to the house, Al risked speaking.

"He's really a good guy, isn't he? Jean?"

"Yeah." Ed's voice was soft, reflective. "we only met him a few months ago, but he's already taken it upon himself for us to learn all the joys of modern society." There was a wry grin on his face, and a small uplift to his tone to show he was joking.

But it was only partially; the majority of the message had been true. Jean Havoc had done a lot for them. Maybe he had noticed how they subconsciously leaned towards him, a familiar figure in this unfamiliar world, and so he had taken them under his wing. But he had never had to, and so both of them were grateful to him. Sometimes he had these dramas like today, but he was a good man.

Sometime, Al had wondered at that. There were clear differences between the Jean of this world and the Havoc they had known. Jean was more carefree, an adult well-versed in today's modern society, where Havoc was an experienced soldier. Others Al and Ed had seen in this world too had such conflicted characters. And since they had never quite settled down, never quite called a place "home," they had seen many of the dopplegangers in various places.

Now, Al and Ed had been living in London for a few months for Ed's work. Even after Alfons died, Ed still pursued space engineering. Al knew that his brother knew it wouldn't get them back to their world. Instead, it was more of a respect for the friend he had lost, to continue in his work. This had again brought Ed to London, where he had been working before, but in a different area than back then. Sometimes, Al would go with Ed to visit the Hughes and Gracia of this world. They were living well together, and expecting their firstborn any moment now.

As for Al, he was in school. It was one of the more frustrating things about this world. His body was under the age limit, and so he was required by law to go.

"Hey, Al." He looked up at that tone. He'd know it anywhere. Brother was planning something. "It's Halloween tomorrow." He looked at Ed cautiously, trying to understand.

"...And?"

"Think about the date, Al." It took a moment, and then he realized, a wide grin flourishing on his face.

"Of course! The Golden Dawn opened the portal on Halloween last year. It's been a year since we've been in this world." Ed nodded eagerly.

"And this year, we'll make it the best Halloween ever, right Al?"

They shared infectious grins.