Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of the characters. They belong to Arakawa-Senpai~ I only own my OC's, my made up towns/cities/countries/other misc characters and this fanfiction.

Author's Note: I welcome CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, so please review somewhat kindly. Also feel free to PM me for any questions/queries about this story, or even just to say hello :3

Chapter: Friends, Family & Feelings

Summary: In the hardest of times, it's our loved ones that pull through for us when we need it most.

Alphonse sat quietly as he stared down at the wooden floorboards of the hospital, his elbows resting on his knees as he leans forward, hanging his head and feeling the empty numbness inside. He couldn't even feel the pain in his heart anymore, but he knew it was there. Sitting with his thoughts in the darkened forgotten alcove of a short corridor, a place he had been once before many years ago when he was with Edward. The mirror he had cracked with the force of his armored body still there on the wall in front of him. He felt the same way that mirror looked. Cracked and broken. He didn't move, or even notice when he felt a gentle hand placed upon his shoulder.

Riza sat beside the young Elric, offering what little comfort she could. When they arrived at the hospital a few hours ago, it had taken all her strength to pull Alphonse away with her so that Juniper could be taken care of by the doctors and surgeons. As she sat there in the lengthy silence with him, she wondered just how deeply he cared for Juniper, though she decided that asking would be inappropriate at this time. She stood slowly as Roy's silhouette appeared at the end of the hallway, against the soft light of the breaking dawn that seeped in through a nearby window. As she approached him, she could see the distant look in his dark, tired eyes.

Roy looked over to where Alphonse was slumped over before turning his gaze back to Riza. He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly as he spoke in a hushed tone. "Jagger ended up getting away, but the other two are in custody. As for Juniper... well, I just spoke to Dr Knox's son, who's taking care of her now... It's not good."

Riza had known Roy long enough to know that when his voice sounded as dejected as it did, that he too in his own way was being affected by current events. She briefly recalls Hughes' funeral and how Roy was that day before squeezing her eyes shut, fighting off her own emotions for the time being. She needed to be the strong one, for the General and the young Colonel.

"Shall I notify her family Sir?" Her tone was soft and somewhat sympathetic.

"No… At least not yet. I want to give it a little bit before making the call. She still might-…" 'Live... or die...' He stopped, momentarily struggling with his own emotions. Although he knew that what had happened was nobody's fault, guilt still gnawed away at him. Juniper was still a young woman, and it pained him at what the outcome of this incident might be. No one was made of stone after all. A quote that had been shouted by Fullmetal one time came to his mind.

'We're only human!'

He sighed deeply before returning his gaze to Riza. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. There was a key to each of his main subordinate's apartments in case of emergencies that only he held. He singled one out then passed the set of keys to her. "Could you fetch some clothes for him, please? I bet he won't want to leave anytime soon."

Riza nodded, her eyes were full of sorrow as she looked back at the Colonel behind her. She briskly left to attend to her given task.

Roy stepped over to join Alphonse at the bench he occupied, who had not been privy to the conversation between himself and Riza. He had remained staring down at the ground. Roy can't recall ever seeing him like this, at least not this badly affected.

"Alphonse…" He began quietly. "I have news about Juniper."

Although his heart leapt to his throat and his pulse quickened, Alphonse reacted slowly, turning his head slightly to meet Roy's gaze before sitting his body upright. Roy continued.

"The doctors have her stabilized, but she's still in a critical state. Her body is very weak from blood loss and is fighting to hold on at this stage, and… it can go one of two ways now, and her odds aren't good I'm afraid. There's nothing else that can be done. We just have to wait for her now." Roy was struggling to look at Alphonse, as the look in his eyes would break anyone's heart.

"When can I see her?" Alphonse mumbled softly

"Soon, in an hour or so. They're just dressing her wound."

Alphonse slowly nodded in response and went back to the same hunched over position he was in before.

"There's one more thing. The surgeon noted that the artery that had been severed apparently showed signs of repair, in what he described were characteristically similar to alchemy or alkahestry." He said as he watched Alphonse's brow furrow in confusion.

"What? I didn't… I mean I don't think I…" He trailed off twice, struggling to comprehend this new information. He tried to think back, and nothing occurred to him that could explain it.

"I had my hand on her wound the whole time she was in my arms… Nothing could have happened, I would have noticed..."

"You don't think you subconsciously did it? Alchemy isn't normally used for healing, but Alkahestry is, and you're the only one I know of in Amestris that has had that sort of training." Roy replied.

"I know how it works and I've studied it deeply, but I've honestly never been able to successfully pull it off on a more serious injury like that. Not for anything more than a small scar or two." Alphonse appeared lost.

He stood up in that instant and turned to Roy. "I need to make a call."

"That's what the surgeon told the General. But the thing is I don't remember trying to perform any alchemy or alkahestry the whole time. I couldn't think straight in that moment, let alone thinking of trying something like that." Alphonse explained as he held the telephone to his ear. He was standing around the corner from the usual waiting room lobby, leaning slightly over the phone box that was on the wall.

"Hmm…" The voice on the other end was quiet for a moment.

"With all due respect, it's a little ironic that this has happened to be honest. I was actually reading through some old scrolls about something exactly like this happening to a few people not too long ago." The high pitched voice fluttered over the phone, though more feminine now than squeaky and girly as it once was.

"What did it say? What caused it?" Alphonse replied, eager for information.

"It said that the people it happened to were all in a dire or life threatening situation that didn't allow enough time for a rational thought, like in your case. The only way they managed to have this happen to them was because they had a transmutation circle on them, or even something that had a Purification circle on it close to them. Then the person would subconsciously pass on their own flow of chi to the one with the ailment, effectively healing them completely or just enough to sustain them longer. But a key note for it was that the connection between the person who performed it, and the person who received it, had life bound bonds. Like siblings, or a husband and wife. It sounds to me like the ultimate declaration of love." She explained, her final sentence sounding dreamy.

To Alphonse it made sense, but knowing why it made sense to him caused his cheeks to pink slightly, but he quickly pushed the thought away.

"So do you think my ability to perform alchemy and alkahestry without an array must've come into play?"

"I can't see there being any other explanation for it Alphonse. I think that whether you knew it or not at the time, you actually saved your friends life."

"Do you think I could do it again, but knowingly?"

"I'm sure you could, although it may not be as effective since you're still fairly new at this type of alkahestry. But from the extent of what you've told me, I think any little bit would help in this case."

Alphonse let out the first sigh of relief he had in a while in one big whoosh. Now he wouldn't feel so helpless. He smiled softly. "Thanks May. You've been a big help."

"I'm always a big help, what are you saying?" She teased; feeling that even a little bit of humor can do him some good.

He chuckled softly, though it was somewhat forced. He was just too emotionally mixed up that he couldn't offer a genuine laugh. May understood this though. They bid each other goodbye soon after, and Alphonse hung up the phone. He turned to head back to the area he had been waiting in before he made his call, but was stopped when Roy placed a hand on his shoulder from behind. He stopped and turned to face the man.

"Sir?"

Roy was glad to see some light back in his eyes and face, and it relieved him to see it.

"I've just seen Juniper. She's still unconscious and currently receiving a blood transfusion, but you're still free to go see her. Before you do I need to give you your new orders." He could tell he was about to get a protest, so he held his hand up to halt him. "Before you say anything, just hear me out. I'm not sure if you remember much of last night, but the Crimson Blade alchemist managed to get away from us despite our efforts to track him down. Thanks to Juniper, we apprehended Shadowfrost and Ironforce, but so far they're refusing to talk. I need as many hands on this case now as I can get, but after seeing… the rather provocative things Jagger did to Juniper, I'm not exactly prepared to leave her in such a state unguarded. I'm not sure he even knows of her status in the military. But in any case, I'm assigning you to the task of keeping her safe on your own. Besides it wouldn't do you or anyone else any good if you spent the day moping around the office." He finished with a soft smirk. It was the only way he knew Alphonse wouldn't fret over her. He also wasn't stupid; he had an idea of how the young alchemist felt about her already.

A genuine, appreciative smile formed on Alphonse's face. Now he could stay by her side and keep his worries at bay… almost. He nodded at Roy. "Thank you Sir."

The latch on the wooden door clicked softly into place as Alphonse closed it behind him upon entering the room. The room was light and airy, but dimmed slightly from the half drawn curtains at the window, blotting out the bright morning sunshine. The room wasn't large, being a private patient room in the ICU, but practical. A curtain stand blocked his view of the bed as he stepped further into the room. The head nurse, a graying middle aged woman with kind green eyes, stepped out from behind it, and then stopped suddenly to see Alphonse standing there with an apprehensive expression.

"Oh you must be Colonel Elric. General Mustang said you had been put on stand-by here to watch over Major Fox. I took the liberty of setting up a cot for you to sleep on, along with some extra blankets." She said as she gestured to a small portable bed in the far corner by the window, blankets folded neatly at the foot of it.

"You really didn't need to go through all the trouble for me, Ma'am. I would've been just as happy in the chair." He said graciously.

"It's no trouble at all young man." She smiled with kindness in her eyes. They reminded him of his Mother's eyes, and he instantly felt comfort warming his heart.

"Is it okay to…?" He mumbled softly, trailing off.

"Oh, of course! Just be mindful of her tubes and wound. Come get me as soon as you can if anything happens. She's my priority patient from now on until she wakes up." She nodded as she began to wheel a cart off to the side and out of the way for him to pass. She smiled once more before turning and leaving the room.

Alphonse stepped closer, and as the bed came into view, he slowly halted when he saw Juniper's near lifeless figure laying there. The sheets were lightly tucked to her sides with her arms resting above them. She had a few tubes connected to her hands and the inside of her elbow, some with clear liquid, and others with red. Her neck was freshly bandaged with soft white cloth. Alphonse moved in closer to sit in a chair that was right at her side. His eyes stared at her pale face, her eyelids still, the only motion she made was the rising and falling of her chest as she breathed slowly and softly.

He felt like he was going to fall apart all over again. But he had to keep himself in check for her sake. He gingerly reached for her hand, letting it rest between his larger ones as he lightly held it. It pleased him to find that she was no longer cold and that her skin, though not hot, had heated a great deal since arriving at the hospital earlier.

He sat with her in the peaceful silence; attentive to each breathe she took. It was a welcome comfort to him.

Alphonse briefly thought back to the phone call he had with May earlier, and figured that he would try out the theory they had discussed. He reached over Juniper's body, placing a light hand above her bandaged neck and began focusing his chi energy, wanting to emit it to her.

He tried… and tried… and tried…

He spent a better part of the day trying to heal her wound with alkahestry, but nothing had come of his efforts. He wasn't entirely disheartened though. He figured that his lack of sleep and current emotional state had left any chi energy he did have to remain dormant.

He would just have to wait.

One week later…

Alphonse's efforts were almost in vain. Nothing he did worked. He just couldn't do it. Dejected, he had stopped trying to use alkahestry all together to aid in Juniper's recovery.

Halfway through the week, she began to show improvements. The color returned to her face and her heart rate was now at a healthy beat. Aside from the healing gash on her throat, she was perfectly healthy. Only, she had still not woken up.

While Juniper appeared to improve, Alphonse began to decline. He started to refuse to leave the room unless a nurse came in for a while or Roy and Riza came to visit. Even then, he only left to shower and take care of his needs. He even began refusing to eat, seldom eating a piece of bread or some fruit that was brought to him, being verbally forced to do so by Roy. He spent most nights in the chair beside her bed, having passed out with her hand held in his own.

Another week passes…

Roy was now beyond concerned, not only for Juniper's unchanged state, but Alphonse's loss of spirit. He knew he couldn't send him off on leave, as it wouldn't help Alphonse at all. During the week, Roy had called Juniper's Father and brother in Kadayr, and it was Dan who made the trip alone to Central to be with her. He couldn't stay for as long as he would've liked though, as he had to return to their Father who had been left to look after the business as well as being too grief stricken to make the trip himself. But even Dan had expressed his worry over Alphonse to the General. Roy didn't know what else to do.

Friday of the second week…

Alphonse was sitting in the chair at her bedside. His head leaning on his hand that he had propped under his chin, which was now covered in the short stubble of dark blond facial hair. Overcast citrine eyes peered at Juniper's sleeping face, nothing changed since last week. The only notable thing was the doctor confirming something Alphonse had begun to suspect; Juniper was in a coma. Not due to the wound, but from the pent up trauma she had suffered as a teenager along with what had happened at the Central bank. The young son of Dr Knox, who had been in charge of Juniper's care, explained that sometimes when the mind suffers so much, it can't cope, and shuts itself down to try and mend.

But now, he was so absorbed in watching her peaceful sleep that he didn't notice the comforting, familiar hand come to rest on his shoulder.

"Alphonse...?" The voice was calm, pained and sorrowful.

It took him a moment to register the voice in his head, but when he did, he hesitantly tore his eyes away from Juniper to look up at the person who stood by his side.

"B-Brother." Alphonse stood abruptly and threw his arms around Edward, letting everything he felt pour out in a wash of overwhelming emotion as fresh tears sprung to his eyes. Edward was the only person he could allow himself to do this in front of, and the relief he felt as he sobbed against his older brother's shoulder was everything he had needed in that moment.

Edward had gotten on the train and arrived in Central within hours of receiving a phone call from Roy. The way the General spoke concern over Alphonse was all it took for him to get here as fast as he could manage. Upon entering the room and seeing him however, it had angered him to see his brother wallowing in self-pity and the condition he had let allowed himself to fall into. Not malnourished, but certainly weakened. As soon as he assessed the situation however, seeing how lifeless his eyes were, his anger had disappeared instantly. Edward had never physically seen his younger brother like this, not since their Mother died.

Edward held him for what felt like hours, letting him pour his burdens out for him to help shoulder, being the comforting older brother.

"So this Jagger moron… He got away huh?" Edward muttered with his mouth full of Winry's apple pie that he had brought along with him.

"Yeah." Alphonse nodded before biting into a slice of his own pie. Edward had convinced him to eat, and he did so willing, realizing how hungry he had been after getting everything off his chest.

"Bastard." Edward grumbled. After hearing everything from Alphonse, he was livid about what had happened. Alphonse simply rolled his eyes, finally feeling his sense of humor returning.

"So the world isn't as big as we thought, huh Al?" Edward said as he brushed the crumbs from his shirt.

Alphonse's brow furrowed slightly with confusion, not understanding where he was going with this. Edward saw this and chuckled before gesturing with a nod of his head towards Juniper, watching as Alphonse clued in.

"O-Oh! Yeah… I guess it's not." He said softly, his gaze still turned to where she rested. They had seated themselves by the portable bed in the far corner of the room, trying to be somewhat polite to Juniper without actually leaving the room. Alphonse still refused to budge after all.

Edward snickered then went quiet again before his brother turned back around. Alphonse became curious over something as he looked down at the pie slice he still held onto.

"Ed, could I… ask you something?"

"Shoot." He said after taking another slice of pie into his mouth.

"When did you first realize… that you loved Winry?" He said somewhat hesitantly.

Edward spluttered, choked then coughed, thumping a fist on his chest until he righted himself after the unexpected question.

"Ugh… Don't kill me Al. Jeez…"

Alphonse looked at him with raised brows, waiting.

Edward looked back at him incredulously. He tried to play it off with nonchalance, which he was always too obvious to pull off. "Oh well, you know. Probably when we got back home after getting our bodies back."

Alphonse gave him an 'I don't believe your bullshit' look. Bland and not amused at all.

Edward let out a defeated sigh before pausing in thought. "To be honest, I knew I liked her a lot when we were kids. I was always the little shit that picked on her the most after all."

They both snickered, remembering how Edward always gave her a hard time which ended up back firing on him with well hidden wrenches most of the time.

"My feelings became more apparent to me the first time we returned home for repairs. All those years I did what I could to push the feelings aside because I thought that it would be a burden if I kept thinking about her. But it was Hawkeye who called me out on it. After that, I started to let those feelings grow slowly. When I finally admitted to myself that I was in love with her, I felt like I was a stronger person on the inside somehow, like she gave me the extra strength I needed to get through those years." Edward spoke in a fond tone that was full of adoration as he looked down at the pie slice in his hand.

Alphonse remained quiet as he considered Edwards words, staring out the window to see the bright blue sky of the mild day. He didn't notice Edward now staring at him with a suspiciously raised brow and a cheeky smirk.

"Speaking of feelings… It's almost like you two were destined to meet each other. I mean, look all the coincidences you've told me about." Edward blurted out, trying to get a rise out of his brother. But he didn't quite get the reaction he had expected, but was rather surprised when he saw Alphonse's cheeks turn pink and a soft smile slowly appear on his face.

"Yeah… Maybe… I feel like I've known her my whole life…" He said as he stared out of the window.

Something that May had said to him two weeks ago resounded in his head.

'…"But a key note for it was that the connection between the person who performed it, and the person who received it had life bound bonds. Like siblings, or a husband and wife. It sounds to me like the ultimate declaration of love."…'

Along with Edward's recently spoken words.

'…"When I finally admitted to myself that I was in love with her, I felt like I was a stronger person on the inside somehow, like she gave me the extra strength I needed to get through those years."…'

It all made sense to him now, how he had managed to save her from bleeding to death by using alkahestry. He told her, in his thoughts at least, that he loved her. But was that it? Was that him admitting it to himself back then? It was, but at the same time it wasn't.

'That must be why it only worked a little bit! My denial simply clouded my inner flow of chi.'

His realization stunned him, his gold eyes blinking from the surprise it gave him.

"Al?" Edward noticed the dumbfounded look on his brother's face.

"You know, I think that I…" Alphonse trailed off into a soft mumble as his mind backtracked to the memories he had made with Juniper so far.

From the day he had bumped into her and at the time not knowing it was actually her, to the state alchemy exams then the hours spent in the local bar getting to know one another. The studying they did together with a cup of their favorite tea, to spending the day helping her to get settled in Central. The most prominent memory being from when they first touched each other's hand outside the hotel she stayed in. The spark he felt, he could still feel deep within his heart, only it had grown more than he could comprehend.

'I like her, I know that much. But do I love her? I… think I do… No. I know I do. I'm definitely in love with Juniper.' He confessed to himself and turned his eyes from the window to her sleeping form.

"You think what, Al?" Edward heard his mumbling, but didn't understand what he was saying.

"I love her… I pretty sure that I do, Ed. Undoubtedly." Alphonse now spoke out clearly as he looked back at his brother, who simply nodded in understanding.

"I thought that you might." Edward said knowingly, making Alphonse's blush deepen. He wasn't going to tease him about something as deep as this. Maybe a few years ago when he was an immature teenager he might've, but he understood that feelings of love was never something to be joked about.

"Are you going to tell her that when she wakes up?"

"Wh-what? No! I can't. We're just friends and work colleagues, so I couldn't…" Alphonse flustered as he waved his hands in front of him, leaving Edward to laugh at his expense.

As Alphonse drifted of in thought once more, Edward leaned in next to him, wiggling his brows and smirking suggestively, which effectively earned himself a hard punch in the arm from his younger brother. Alphonse smirked and shook his head.

'Well… maybe… One day.'

Author's Notes: Alphonse was always more honest with himself after all...

Ahhh... So we have a bit progress and self-confession *brow wiggles*. I had a thought that maybe I was pushing the whole 'admitting feelings' thing a bit far too soon when I figured that Alphonse is really only confessing to himself (and Ed, whom we hope Al doesn't come to regret telling) xD. I also don't want to spend the next 20 or so chapters revolving just over the two of them coming to terms with feelings and confessing to one another. It just drags on otherwise. So I apologize if it appears to be moving too fast (or too slow x0x;), but I'm being somewhat cautious with it so the romance element doesn't become a bit overpowering and predictable as most romance tends to be. Let's see if things warm up a bit now~

I'm always up for suggestions too!