There are currently seven named plot-bunnies running around my head and all of them try to beat the poor Numb-plot-bunny to death simply because those impatient creatures don't want to wait for their turn. But the Numb-bunny is a strong bunny, it will tell its story until the end!

Sorry for the shortness of the chapter and thanks for the reviews!

Chapter 29

What Has Been Taken, What Has Been Given

It was a nice day. A light wind and sunshine. The crops on the fields waved like a golden ocean in the morning light and the grassland followed their example in a rich green. Cows and sheep peacefully grazed and the farmers they belonged to went about their work just as peacefully. Most of them knew the golden haired boy who knelt before a grave at the small cemetery of their home town. But they didn't know he was there. If they did they would have let him mourn in peace, but on the way back from the cemetery they would have been standing at the wayside to say a friendly hello, let him know he wasn't alone and even though he barely came back to this small town any more they would always remember him and care, look into the newspaper and see how he was doing. But even without them he wasn't alone. There was the father who was there for once but had been left behind at the grave yard's gate, the son not willing to get used to his comfort again when he would vanish again. And there was the soldier who cared for his comrade more than a commanding officer needed to, stood by him as he crouched there, eyes on the same level as the name of the person he spoke to even though he wasn't sure if the the little brother was at a place where he could still hear the words of the older one.

"Hey Al... I'm sorry for taking so long to visit you. Don't ever think I forgot about you because I didn't. I just...I'm such a coward Al, I couldn't even walk up here and... and just face what I've done... I know you'll say it's not my fault, you always do, you just have a heart that's bigger than your common sense. If not you'd have ditched me after the first transmutation, anyone with common sense would have seen that I'm too rash and too stubborn to see when I'm wrong and listen to those who voice doubt. But you stayed. You stayed and gave me a chance to learn and make things good again and I want to thank you for that... and apologise for screwing it up. A- apologise for t-taking too long to learn, for learning too late, for just-... I just screwed it up Al and I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! I even hurt more people before I finally got it into my stupid head that I can't solve everything with alchemy!
Sometimes I think it would have been better if they hadn't found me... if I had just wasted away in that basement until my corpse looked as broken as yours. But that too would hurt people, because those idiots just won't give up on me! I make them cry, I almost kill them and they still-... Why Al, just why, I don't understand! You know, don't you? You've put up with me too... And now you're gone and I think I should have asked you earlier, when you could-... could still answer me. And then- and then I should have said thanks. Thanks Al, for putting up with me. Even though you'd have made a much better big brother than me. I just should have listened to you more instead of always dragging you into my mess. And I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry and I'd give everything to be able to turn back time. But that's impossible. Just like human transmutation. And now I know. It's too late but I know. I know...
And because I know and because those idiots around us won't give up on me I'll go on. I want to follow you so much Al, but I'll go on, I'll achieve something, I don't know what but I'll do something, make use of my life so the knowledge and their caring doesn't go to waste. And if we ever meet again somewhere in some stupid afterlife an alchemist shouldn't even believe in, then I h-hope... I hope you can forgive me once more..." Slowly the small alchemist stood up again. "So now I'll go and catch that train back to Central." He looked at the shadows on the ground, at the shape of another one next to his own. "And don't worry Al, I won't give up on the way. There's this annoying colonel who'll have my head if I do. He's one of those idiots who just won't give up on me. Though I'm glad he doesn't. If he had walked out like that ass who's standing by the cemetery gate right now then he'd set off quite the vicious circle again... Because selfish me can't be alone. But then humans are pack animals, aren't we?" He chuckled quietly, then clapped his hands and let flowers grow around the tombstone. "There, I know you hated how cold graves look."

He turned to his mother's grave and let some colour rise there too. "Hey mum... I'm sorry I sent Al to join you, he should have had some more time on earth before meeting you again. But at least you have each other now... You know, Hohenheim is finally back. I don't know if he had the decency to visit you but... I thought you might be happy to know. You've always been waiting for him..."

Stepping back Edward looked at the two graves which now didn't seem to stare at him in hatred anymore. A tiny smile made its way up on his lips. "I'll come by again," he promised. Finally he turned and, throwing a glance at Mustang, who smirked the small smirk of someone who knew that a lot of work was lying ahead but didn't mind taking it on, he smiled a bit wider and started walking.

"I can tell you why we don't give up on you," the colonel quietly spoke as they passed through the cemetery gate and started on the walk to the Rockbell house, Hohenheim quietly following after them.

Edward blinked in surprise at the colonel who was looking ahead, the upcoming wind ruffling his neatly combed black hair so the bangs slowly fell back down into his eyes. "Knowing you there's a short-joke ahead," he then grumbled, maybe to lead the colonel away from the subject. He had asked Al why, but right now he wasn't sure he wanted to know what they all saw in him, was afraid he couldn't live up to their image. He wanted to do his best for the people around him but he couldn't discern if it would crush him should his best not be enough. And if he was crushed could he get back up on his feet yet again?

The fine smile on Mustang's lips switched into a smirk for a moment but then went back to being subtle happiness expressed in the tiny rise of the corners of his mouth. He turned to look at Ed. "The reason why we don't give up on you, is that we know that you would never give up on us. You'd fight with all you have for those who are important to you, and even for those who aren't. You try to be fair, you try not to kill, in a world where it would be so much easier if you had no such scruples. You remind us what humanity is about and that everyone is important." He looked ahead again. "You might not be perfect and you make mistakes too, but still. People like you keep mankind from destroying itself. And that makes you priceless. Not to mention you're our friend."

Ed looked at him with big eyes. But before he could think of anything to say Mustang was once again smirking. "Though if you insist on a comment on your height: Maybe we partly look after you so much because you awake that primary parental instinct in every one of us, since you barely surpass a toddler in height and little kids just have that affect on people- OUCH!"

"I'm sorry for hitting the injury, but I'm not sorry for hitting you in general!" Ed told him but despite grinning he looked in worry at the bent over colonel and crossed his arms in front of his chest, pulling the elbow that he had jabbed at Mustang closer to himself in a subconscious apology and to show he wouldn't do it again.

Mustang slowly straightened again and grinned. "I guess I kind of deserved that... though you practically asked for that comment!"

"I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

Mustang just laughed and started walking again. And even though Ed muttered under his breath about a 'stupid giant colonel' the boy kept walking close by the man's side. It was probably ridiculous but he felt warmer there. Despite the bantering, all the words just said and the sadness from the cemetery were still there, swirling around his mind. Though it was okay, he was not alone.

But it seemed Edward wasn't the only one sinking into some darker thoughts. Ed by now knew the colonel good enough to tell when he drew back into himself a bit. A look at the man told him that something was botherig him. But there was nothing Ed could do about that right now, the colonel wouldn't talk when he himself was still pondering his problem.

They reached the Rockbell house and Ed ignored Pinako making a fuss about Hohenheim. He concentrated on watching Hawkeye scolding the colonel. He made sure he wouldn't have to talk to his father. And he still ignored Hohenheim when they all sat around the table, having a late and quick breakfast. Where he had relished their dinner last night he now only concentrated on inhaling food while the others chatted between chewing. Though not all of them chatted. Mustang was quiet. Ed decided to try and find out what was bothering the man once they were on the train.

He was glad that Hohenheim wouldn't take the same train, his father would take one later on in the other direction, farther into the east to the last train station there in a town too tiny to be mentioned on the map. Despite wanting to ignore him Ed had understood that he was planning to visit the Ishbal ruins, something about checking on something, before continuing to Liore for a check there. Maybe the mentioning of Ishbal had ruined Mustang's mood? Anyway, they finally got ready to leave and Ed felt very relieved that he would go back to Central with the colonel, that he was not supposed to stay with Hohenheim. He guessed it was childish that in a last bout of irrational fear he practically followed Mustang everywhere but the bathroom until they all stood on the porch, saying their goodbyes to the Rockbells.

It surprised him when while Hawkeye thanked the Rockbells for their hospitality and Winry and Pinako wished her a good journey and good luck with keeping the colonel in line with the paperwork, he heard a quiet "I'm sorry" spoken in Mustang's voice. Careful to look like he was still busy patting Den without getting licked all over the face by the dog, he glanced over at the colonel who was standing next to Hohenheim, looking at the ground.

"I never meant to steal him from you," he whispered.

"You can't steal what has been given to you," Hohenheim said and Ed looked away when the man's eyes came to settle on him. "I left. You came and you stayed. Edward chose to trust you. I don't blame you."

"Still feels wrong." Ed could practically hear the pained smile.

"It feels wrong to look after him?"

"No, that couldn't feel more right." The pain left the smile for a moment, then returned. "It just feels so wrong that he lets me help him, that he actually turns to me even when..."

"Even when his father is around."

"Yes."

"I haven't been a good father for my boys; I'm sure Edward thinks I don't deserve that title and I probably really don't. But I still care about them... him. And that is why I'm relieved to know that someone looks after Edward and is there for him. Again, I don't blame you, Colonel Mustang. Just promise me to never leave him behind like I did."

Ed peaked up from between his bangs, just in time to see Mustang stand a bit straighter and look Hohenheim in the eye, his face unbelievable open and honest, showing he said it because he wanted to and because he meant it. "I promise."

Hohenheim nodded, relieved. "Thank you."

And Ed hid his face in the dog's fur and hugged Den tightly, not sure why he felt like crying.

When they finally walked away from the yellow house Ed looked back over his shoulder once. Not to glare in anger or hate at Hohenheim, no, just a look back to show the man how much difference that could make when you see someone walking away.

And maybe to thank him for not giving the colonel a bad conscience and speaking him free of the irrational guilt of having stolen away his son.

Because in this case Ed didn't mind admitting that Hohenheim was right. Mustang hadn't stolen Edward from his father. Ed had given the colonel his trust all on his own.

And he didn't regret it.