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: Hey there everyone~! Just wanted to quickly remind you that this fanfic is now also being posted on ArchiveOfOurOwn .org. All the chapters have been revised and posted there as a better version of the story on here, since it's SO much easier to go back and fix mistakes there as well as add links and artwork for the story. I will still continue posting chapters here of course~! This version will be without a lemon, the other one will have lemons.

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: The Lilac Rose

Summary: 'Receive ten, and give back eleven.'

Juniper's eyes flickered rapidly as her sight readjusted to the room after having Dr Knox shine a small torch in her eyes. The young doctor finished checking over her vitals before he began unraveling the bandage around her neck.

"I'm just going to see how the wound is healing now Miss Fox. Do tell me of any pain you experience." He said as he worked. As the final wrappings of the bandage pulled away, he let out a barely audible gasp, which alerted Juniper instantly.

"What? What is it?" She couldn't help the rushed worried tone as her eyes widened slightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry for startling you Miss, it's just that your wound… It's completely healed. There's not even a scar, just the stitches." He said as he inspected it further, gently prodding at where the gash once was. "There's no pain here at all?"

"No, it feels perfectly fine."

"This is wonderful. I wonder if…" He drifted off in thought. He somewhat suspected the reason for the fast healing, as all the signs were obvious. A wound as big as it had been would have left a decently sized scar, but there was nothing there now. "I'll remove the stitches now if you are comfortable enough."

Juniper nodded in response, and Dr Knox began delicately cutting and removing the stitches one by one, discarding them in a metal tin. She idly counted them in her head. The gash must've been a lot bigger than she first presumed, because there was well over thirty stitches that were removed. Once Dr Knox finished, there was only a few barely noticeable marks on her neck where the stitches were once embedded in her flesh, and these would completely disappear in time. He started to remove his latex gloves when a nurse knocked on the door and entered.

"Dr Knox, Nurse Inez requires your attendance in room 304 at your earliest convenience. Also Miss Fox, you have a visitor, shall I let them in?"

"Inform her I'm heading over there now." Dr Knox replied.

Juniper had simply smiled and nodded her head at the nurse, who smiled back before leaving with the young doctor following her out. After they left, a young man walked into the room with a wide grin. Juniper instantly recognized him, and was fairly surprised to see him here.

"Edward?"

"Heya Juniper. Long time, no see eh?" He said as he closed the door behind him and shuffled into the room towards her.

"Heh… I'll say. What are you doing here?" She folded her hands, one over the other, in her lap as she watched him languidly throw himself down into the chair at her bedside.

"Well, Al wouldn't want me saying this, but I came here after getting a phone call from the General who told me that Al hasn't been the same since an incident that occurred two weeks ago. So I came to see what I could do to help him, but that's when I found out that it was you who had been injured, so I extended my stay for a few more days. Until I got here, I had no idea that you two knew each other, though I guess it was only a matter of time." He said with a soft chuckle.

Juniper cast her gaze down. The feeling of guilt began to snake its way up from the pit of her stomach, threatening to grip her tightly and strangle her heart.

"Alphonse suffered… because of me?" She stated in a soft, wavering voice. Her past problems not only haunted her, but now they had begun to make others suffer without an explanation from her. Her thoughts were roughly halted.

"Hey! Don't even think about feeling guilty for Alphonse. What happened was out of your control." Edward snapped harshly, but there was a hint of familiarity. It may have been a year or two since he had last spoken to Juniper, and four since he had last seen her, but she was still a friend. He hated when anyone he cared about tried blaming themselves for something they didn't do, or worse, wallow in their self-pity. He wasn't having any of it now.

"Listen Juniper… no one is expecting you to explain why you did the things you did that night. At least not until you feel like you are ready." He paused for a moment before continuing. "You know… you're not the only one who has had to deal with a bit of PTSD. Both Al and I suffered from it when we returned home, and we weren't expecting it at all. No matter how strong you are, even little things like dreams can trigger it sometimes. Seeing that person again would have been understandably upsetting for you, let alone the things he did. What's important is surrounding yourself with people that you care about that will be your support when you need it. You've got your family at home, Izumi, Al, Winry and I as well. Don't forget it." Edward spoke softly, understanding completely what she would be feeling. It was one of those extremely rare tender moments he was capable at having.

Juniper lifted her gaze back up to his, seeing the amount of emotion in them. She realized that it was certainly an Elric trait to be so expressive through a simple golden gaze. She exhaled softly as his words sunk in. He certainly had a point. It was okay to feel weak every now and then, but blaming herself wasn't going to get her anywhere.

"Thanks Ed. It truly means a lot. I guess all I needed was that little kick in the ass to remind me of that." She paused with a smile, which grew into a humored grin. "Since when did you get so flowery with words?" She teased.

This made Edward chuckle and shrug. "Heh… People are always learning and growing, I suppose."

Juniper snickered "If an inch counts as growing, sure."

"Hey! I'm plenty tall! You're a tiny shrimp compared to me." He enjoyed calling her short just a little too much, considering she was only 5'3 and he was at least 6 ft now.

"I wasn't talking about your height." She makes a gesture, pointing towards her own stomach, which makes him grumble.

"Al's been telling you that I'm fat hasn't he?!"

"He doesn't have to tell me, I can see it for myself." She was trying to fight of the laughter.

Edward shakes a fist at nothing in particular as an angry vein pops from his temple. "I'll show him what a fat lip looks like! Anyway it's not fat..." He pauses as he momentarily thinks. "…it's Dad muscle." He says with a firm nod and he folds his arms over his chest with a huff.

"More like 'Dad flab'." Juniper clutches her stomach as she laughs loudly. No matter how old he got, she figured that Edward was the type of man that would always be hypersensitive about almost anything.

Once her laughter died down and he had stopped pouting, she began asking him about how the past year or so had been for him. She had stayed in contact with Winry through letters more than Edward, so she knew of major things like their children.

"Actually… hang on-…" Edward muttered as he fumbled for his wallet in his pants. Once it was free, he tugged a photo from it and passed it to her. Her eyes lit up and sparkled with adoration of the beautiful little family.

"Oh Edward they're adorable. Thomas is so big now! Oh and little Sarah is as cute as a button." She swooned. "You're so lucky, you know. Do you and Winry plan on any having more?"

The question made his cheeks pink slightly as he rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish, but bright smile on his face. "I sure hope so. Well I'd like to, but then again I'm not the one doing the nine months hard work." He remembered he had almost lost his hands when his son was arriving, and had been pelted with wrenches on his daughter's arrival. But to him, it was worth every cut, bruise and lump.

"Being a Dad is great, but I gotta admit, I can't wait to be an Uncle either when the time comes. But I guess that's still ahead in the future. You probably think it's weird for me to feel like that, huh?" He looked up at her with his trademark crooked smile.

She shook her head. "No not at all. I mean, I wouldn't know what it's like, but I can imagine that the idea of having a growing family is exciting. Especially since you seem to want your brother to experience everything you have one day too. I'm sure my own brother will be like you once he has a family of his own, and I'll probably never hear the end of it from Da too." She giggled softly, imagining just how much her father would probably nag her and Dan to go find love and start a family so he could have grandchildren. She was sure that it wouldn't be long until Dan found someone he could settle down with, considering he never much left Kadayr unless it was to make deliveries. But as for herself, now that she was a State Alchemist, she wasn't so sure.

Edward let out a contented hum as he leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his belly and the two sat in comfortable silence, each in their own thoughts. Juniper's mind went back to earlier that morning as well as what she could remember of last night.

'I remember waking and seeing him there… According to the nurse, he's not left my side at all these past two weeks. Have I really caused him so much grief? None of this would've happened if I wasn't so damn impulsive… Izumi would have beaten me senseless for my actions.' She cringed slightly. 'I'd deserve it though… He seemed so relieved when I woke up, and he was sweet and attentive when he helped me with the ice, despite the awkwardness. Oh, but he broke my heart with how much he blamed himself for what happened, and the tears he had shed. It wasn't his fault at all; I wanted to do whatever I could to take that guilt he felt away… Even while he was hurting, he still thought of my well-being. Not to mention he happily obliged my request to… to…' She began to recall the moment when she had asked him to stay by her side during the night… in the bed together.

Feeling her cheeks growing hot, she tried to shake her thoughts from her head only to remember one more thing.

'W-We nearly… Oh fuck! We nearly kissed!' Her body flinched at the memory and her face only grew a more vivid crimson.

Edward, who had been looking at Juniper and was about to ask about the now non-existent scar on her neck, noticed the sudden movement and her reddening face. He stared at her blankly then raised a questioning brow. "Juniper?"

'What would have happened if that did happen though…?' Her mind still drifting.

"Juniper?!" Edward said a little louder, catching her attention and stunned expression.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" She took calming breathes to settle her heart, which had begun pounding hard against her chest.

"No, but your face is red and you look a little shocked about something."

"Oh! I umm… I… was just thinking about what happened last night when I woke up… Uh… The nurse. She wouldn't let me shower in private because my legs were still wobbly… heh.." She chuckled nervously, hoping he'd buy it.

Luckily for her, Edward was none the wiser, despite now being married with two children. He was still as oblivious as ever when it came to this sort of thing, and it worked in her favor this time.

"Ah! Yeah I can see how that'd be embarrassing for you. At least it was a female nurse, right?" He joked, and she giggled.

"By the way, I noticed your wound…"

Alphonse was making his way through the streets of Central, heading over to the hospital now as he had planned. His hands were in his pockets, trying not to fumble with Mustang's letter for Juniper too much as he pondered about what it contained. Some mission orders or questions about the bank incident perhaps? He wouldn't pry unless she chose to tell him.

As he walked, an old lady pushing a little flower cart had stopped not too far ahead of him as she made a sale. He wondered if Juniper liked flowers, and what kind was her favorite. There hadn't been any her in hospital room, just a small vase that sat on the bedside table; painfully empty.

When Alphonse had left Central Command, the memory of their lips almost touching in the night came back to him again, and he almost decided to turn around and go back home instead so he could bury himself in alchemy books to forever hide his embarrassment. But Alphonse wasn't the spineless sort who would run away from anything like that; unlike Edward. Perhaps buying her flowers would come as a little distraction from that. Being lost in thought again, Alphonse didn't realize that he had stopped walking, and the old lady had rolled her cart up to him.

She stood there looking at the young man's face before smiling softly. "Hello young man. Are you feeling okay there son?"

Alphonse blinked, being shaken from his stupor. "Oh. Yeah I'm okay madam. I'm sorry." He bowed his head apologetically.

The old lady knew what was going on in the man's head, she'd seen it so many times before in other people, but she spoke anyway. "You look a little dazed there. Someone special on the mind I see?" It wasn't her way to weasel a sale out of him, but more for her own enjoyment.

Alphonse's cheeks tinted pink as he couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. He was an awful liar, so he didn't bother. "Y-Yeah…"

The woman looked around her for a moment before looking back up at him. "You're going to see them in the hospital then, hm?"

He looked at her incredulously. "H-How did you-."

"Know? My boy, my best business is done on this street for that very reason."

She was a witty old lady. Alphonse chuckled. "I suppose that makes sense."

"So…" She began as she turned to face her cart, her hand hovering and sorting through the various species and colors of flowers she had. "Did you know that flowers have a language of their own?"

"Uhh… Sort of. You mean like how roses speak of love right?"

"Yes, but each color also has its own special meaning, son. Especially in roses." She paused, looking at his face as she continued. "Like the cliché of a rose; a red one represents passionate love, while the white rose signifies purity and innocence, and the yellow… friendship and the promise of a new beginning." She gauged his face carefully. "Ah, but the rose most overlooked…" She leans over her cart and from a hidden place amongst the flowers; she pulls out a single rose with a long green stem and passes it to him. "…is the one that speaks of love at first sight." She finished with a bright and all-knowing grin.

Alphonse was a little perplexed to say the least. How in the world could this little old woman know? He looked down at the flower in his hand. It wasn't flashy or too fancy, but seemingly sweet and innocent enough. The delicate lilac colored petals of the rose curled in on each other perfectly. He was about to speak before the woman spoke first.

"Go on now son. This one is on me. I've been doing this for many decades now, and you're not the first love-struck lad I've come across in my time you know. It's your peculiar eyes too, they just speak volumes." She chuckled softly as she got behind her cart and began to move away.

Alphonse spun around and called out to her. "Thank you!" He watched her wave a hand before spinning around and briskly walking the rest of the way to the hospital with a thumping heart.

"…and he learnt how to do that in Xing?!" Juniper exclaimed.

Edward beamed somewhat proudly. "Yep! Al really took great interest in alkahestry before The Promise Day. When his body was strong enough again, he went to Xing for a few years to study it further. He's gotten quite good at it actually."

"That's… impressive. I've heard of alkahestry before and kind of know how it differs from alchemy, but I had no idea it was capable of healing to that extent. This would have taken a lot of energy…" She trailed off as her hand moved up to brush across her neck, feeling no mark or tenderness there.

"Winry burnt her hand badly on some hot metal one day, and the scarring and blistering was too painful for her to continue working. So Al offered to use alkahestry and we got to witness it ourselves. When he was done, it looked as if nothing had ever happened to her hand. It was pretty amazing." Edward said as he recalled the memory. "From what Mustang told me about the extent of your injury over the phone, he was amazed that you didn't bleed out before getting to the hospital in time. I wouldn't be surprised if Alphonse had managed to heal it enough to prevent that from happening, you know."

'…He saved my life...?' Juniper tested the possibility in her mind, and it overwhelmed her with emotion. Tears slowly beaded in the corner of her eyes. She owed him her life, and she felt that nothing she could do would ever be enough to repay it.

"Oh, and speak of the devil." Edward chimed with a pert grin.

"Hey, I'm back."

Juniper was jolted from her deep thoughts at the sound of Alphonse's voice entering the room. Her eyes were wide and glassy with tears as they locked with his joyful gold ones when he walked in. They held each other's gaze for an extensive moment, trying to gauge what the other was thinking. Alphonse noticed the moisture in her hazel eyes and became concerned.

"Is everything alright?" He asked her, then looked to his brother for a hint. Edward had only realized Juniper's teary expression, and was somewhat baffled as he shrugged silently.

Quicker than either of them realized, Juniper had thrown the blankets off of her body and scrambled off the bed in a flurry of swift movement. In a few quick unsteady strides, she was face to face with Alphonse, throwing her arms around him and pulling him into a tight embrace. He was shocked; his eyes widening and face turning beet red as all the functionality of his mind flew away. In the dazed state, he had loosened his grip on the rose and it dropped lightly onto the floor with a gentle bounce. Edward appeared to be having a similar reaction as he tried to process what he was witnessing.

"Ju-Juniper?" Alphonse's voice wavered slightly. "Is everything okay?"

He felt her chest heave slightly against his own as her body trembled. She was crying.

Unbeknownst to them, Edward had discreetly left the room. He knew they'd need a moment, and was more than willing to give them that. After all, he had yet to make a phone call home.

Alphonse pressed her again, asking if she was okay, but only heard quiet sobs. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently moved her back a little so he could look into her eyes. She didn't exactly look sad, but definitely overwhelmed.

"Please tell me what's making you like this…" He said soothingly as he peered down at her.

Juniper looked down towards his chest in front of her as she took a deep, shuddering breathe before speaking softly. "You... I mean, I just realized that you… used alkahestry on my… my wound…"

Alphonse briefly noticed as she spoke that she no longer wore the bandage, and her neck was completely healed and free from scars or stitches. He was pleased that he was able to heal such an extensive wound.

"…I probably wouldn't have made it to the hospital without bleeding to death if you hadn't of helped me. I'm not entirely sure how… but a part of me feels like you also helped me to wake up too." She lifted her gazed to meet his, staring at him in wonder. "I owe you my life, and it hurts that I can't even begin to think of what I can do to make it up to you; to thank you."

He smiled affectionately. "There are only two things you could do for me Juniper."

"Yes?" She watched him expectantly.

He bent down and picked up the lilac rose that had fallen to the floor. As he straightened back up, he blushed and swallowed the tiny nervous lump in his throat. "The first thing, would be accepting this…" He held it out to her and she gingerly took it, bright pink staining her cheeks as she smiled softly at his sweet gesture.

"I-It's beautiful…"

'Like you.' He was elated.

"And the second thing?" She asked somewhat shyly.

"Keep living and moving forward with each day." He said, and watched as her smile brightened.

"With an amazing person like you as my friend by my side, that's easy to do." She reached up and wrapped her arms around him once again, and this time he reciprocated. They held each other close, feeling their hearts almost beating in sync once again.

'Receive ten, and give back eleven.' Alphonse closed his eyes, breathing in her sweet scent of vanilla, pear and honeysuckle for the first time, binding it to his memory. He cherished this moment for as long as he could, unknowing that Juniper was doing the same.

Author's Note: Not to sappyright? It is a fluffy romance after all. I'm just self-conscious since this is my first fanfic I think...

Please review~!