This is posted in celebration of the fact that I finished writing my fifth book on Tuesday. *deep sigh of relief*

Also, I've been marathoning FMA and Brotherhood over the past week (finished FMA and am on episode 33 of Brotherhood) which actually really helped me in finishing my book.

Anyways, after finishing the Conqueror of Shambala, a thought popped into my head that I couldn't help but write. It's kind of depressing, but . . . there you go. Before anyone goes off on me for misspelling names, I changed the names a little bit for the difference in our world and Amestric, like Alphonse was Alfons.

For any of my readers of my Young Justice fanfic, Death of a Partner, Birth of a Hero, I'll be aiming for an update this Saturday, and we'll officially be off of Hiatus. Yay!

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Disclaimer: Somehow I doubt that I am Hiromu Arakawa, seeing as I am not Japanese . . . . . . so no, I don't think I own Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters within.

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"Brother! Brother! Guess what!" Edward Elric looked up as his younger brother burst into the apartment, his eyes shining. "Officer Hughes just proposed to Ms. Gracia!"

"Really?" The nineteen year old stood and stretched, yawning. "What did she say?"

"She said yes!" Alphonse crowed, jumping up and pumping his fist in the air. "Can you believe it brother? The Hughes' were already married when we met them back in Amestris. This time we'll be there all the way! Isn't that great?"

Ed rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess," he said, shrugging.

"Ed, you have to come with me and say congratulations!" Alphonse said, grabbing his arm and pulling him up from the seat at his desk. "You haven't had an argument with Officer Hughes since I came here. I know you said he did some stupid things, but at least think of Ms. Gracia!"

"Alright, alright! I coming! Al, you don't have to drag me!"

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It was only a few months later that Ed stood as Officer Hughes' best man, utterly confused as to how that had happened, and listened as Gracia and Maze took their vows.

"I, Maze Hughes, take you, Gracia Johan, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part," Maze was saying.

Ed felt his eyes widen. Until death do us part? Weddings here were different than in Amestris, he'd known that all along, but those words made his heart pound. The people here seemed to think that after they died, their spirits would be separated from each other forever.

If they were, then he would never get to see- no. He wouldn't think about it.

Ed spent the rest of the day trying hard to be happy for the newlyweds, but it was hard when all he could think was he would never have that chance.

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The next wedding Ed attended was Noah's, four years later. She'd loved him for a long time, but he finally told her that he loved someone else, so she left him alone.

This world's Scar had a younger brother, a kind young man with soft eyes. His name was Micah, and he'd been in love with Noah since the day that they met. It hadn't taken long for her to see that as well, and Ed was glad that she'd finally found happiness with Micah. The Elrics had traveled with the Roma for several months before they managed to get word to Officer Hughes and Gracia and see what the situation was, only to find that Hughes and Gracia had moved out of Germany at the first possible chance, finding a safe country town to hide in.

Only months after they'd arrived there, Hughes and Gracia were married. They managed to find a place for the Roma as well, completely ignoring their shocked neighbors. It didn't take long for the town to come around to accepting the presence of the wandering people.

Naomi, this worlds version of whoever Lust had been in her former life, had become like an older sister to Noah, and Ed could tell that both girls were happy to have a friend among their own people.

The Roma's vows were simple and pure, but once again Ed heard those words. "Till death do we part."

Noah didn't understand why he asked to go home early, but she didn't argue. She already knew he was happy for her, so nothing else mattered to her.

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"Uncle Ed!" Elisha Hughes' squeal made Ed turn in surprise to see the twelve year old burst into the house with no warning. He'd been working on repairing one of his arms, and wasn't expecting visitors.

"What is it Lisha?" he asked, putting down his screwdriver. "Is something wrong? Is it your dad, or Al?"

"No! Daddy's friend came for a visit, and Uncle Al said you should come meet him!" Elisha explained, her eyes bright. "He brought his fiancee, and she's so pretty! A little scary though."

Ed frowned, standing. "Alright then, I guess I can go."

"Great!" Elisha said, grabbing his hand and pulling him after her. Ed didn't even try to stop her, knowing that her exuberance matched her father's. He didn't have a chance, and since he'd already said he would come, there was no way he would be able to stop her.

"Hey! Where are you taking me, where are we going?" Ed asked her as he they jogged down the street. "To mama's store!" Elisha said. "That's where they are. I think Uncle Al is still talking to them." Her dad's friend, and his fiancee . . . Ed frowned. Why would Al want him to come meet someone like that unless they were this worlds version of someone from Amestris. So who?

"Brother, look!" Al said, waving at him from the entrance to the store. At his feet was a small black and white dog with dark eyes and a fluffy tail.

Ed stopped in his tracks. "No way," he muttered, then he took off, passing Elisha easily and bursting into the store. Immediately he found a gun aimed at his chest by a serious looking woman with blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Woah, Roy! Stop her, he's a friend!" Maze yelped. Immediately a gloved hand shot out and stopped the gun.

It was them. The Colonel looked as bigheaded as ever, wearing a long trench coat, with a badge pinned to it. The Lieutenant was putting her gun away, her eyes suddenly soft. "I see, he's not a threat," she was saying. "Sorry about that," she added, turning back to Ed. "Old habits die hard."

He stared at her for a long moment, then grinned. "It's alright, you wouldn't have hit me anyways."

Shock flickered into her eyes. "Are you sure about that? This is point blank range, and I have good aim," she said sternly. "You sound too reckless."

He shook his head. "You wouldn't have hit me because I would have dodged," he explained. "Edward Elric, nice to meet you." he held out his hand and the woman shook it.

"Risa Hawkeye, nice to meet you," she said warmly. "This in former Colonel Roy Mustang, my soon to be husband."

Ed's eyes widened. Colonel Mustang, here as well? He shouldn't have been surprised. Of course he would be the same arrogant man with a god complex.

"Edward Elric? Hughes has told me a lot about you," the Colonel said, looking at Ed with an expression of interest in his eyes. "Almost as much as his wife and daughter. You and your brother must be close."

Ed frowned. This was just weird. "I've known Officer Hughes for years."

"And he still calls me that, though I haven't been an Officer for years," Hughes sighed, shaking his head. "Well, Ed, Roy Mustang and I were childhood friends. He and Risa are getting married soon, and they wanted to settle down somewhere quiet, retire from their military careers. I suggested here."

"Yeah, we want to be somewhere nice and peaceful," Roy said, his eyes glinting in amusement. Ed grinned, he didn't believe that for a second, and neither did Hughes. This was going to be good.

Of course, it also meant another wedding, and more vows to love each other till death parted them.

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"Brother?"

"Yes Al?"

"Are you sure you're ok with this?"

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be?" Ed challenged, turning to face his brother. They were both wearing crisp suits, standing at the end of an isle. The Hughes' and the Mustangs sitting in the first rows, while Noah and the other Roma were still filing in.

"Well . . . I mean . . . I'm getting married," Al supplied awkwardly. "It isn't just going to be us anymore. I mean, I've already bought my own apartment and everything. Mei and I will be spending a lot more time together too."

Ed frowned. He couldn't have this. "Alphonse, of course I'm sure that you can do this. You love Mei, right?"

"Right," Alphonse said certainly.

"Then why are you asking me? I'm happy for you Al. Mei is a great person, even if she does insult me a lot. If you love her, then that's more than enough for me," Ed insisted.

Al seemed a lot happier after that, but it was still hard for Ed to hear that his brother and the girl he loved would be parted in death.

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Ed was in his forties when Elisha Hughes called him with the news that she was engaged. To this worlds version of Selim Bradley too! It was the weirdest thing Ed had ever heard, but he managed to keep his reaction down to a congratulations. It was towards the end of the phone call when she asked the question that made him pause. "Uncle Ed, why aren't you married?"

Ed blinked. "That was unexpected, why the serious question?"

"Well, Uncle Al is married, and Aunt Risa and Uncle Roy, and Aunt Noah, but you aren't. Aunt Noah once told me that she thought she loved you once, but you rejected her," Elisha explained.

Ed cringed. "Oh, yeah, that's right," he said, laughing awkwardly. Then he sobered, sensing Elisha's impatience. "Did Noah say anything about the reasons I rejected her advances?" he said quietly.

"No, she didn't. She said she understood why you did it though," Elisha said.

"She would," Ed muttered. "There's someone I once left behind, a girl. We were young. I don't even know that I knew I loved her, at least not until she wasn't there anymore. Technically I made her no promises. I don't even know if she decided to get married herself, but still . . . I love her Elisha, and I'm never going to love anyone else. I would be betraying myself and my feelings if I married another."

There was a moment of silence, and then a deafening squeal rang through the air. "That's so romantic! Oh, Uncle Ed I had no idea you were so sweet! Why don't you find her? You could get married, and be happy!"

"That's just it Elisha. She's somewhere I can't reach. I'm never going to see her again," Ed's voice was so soft, he wasn't sure that the girl could hear him, but then there was a sound of sympathy.

"I see. I bet she's wonderful."

Ed remembered dimly that Winry and Elicia Hughes had been close in Amestris. "We're like sisters!" Winry's voice rang through his head.

"Yeah, she is," Ed said softly.

"I think you are going to see her again though," Elisha said defiantly.

Ed's head came up. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I think that after we die, we go somewhere along with the souls of all the others who have died. I think you will see her again after you die. You'll be with her once more."

Ed sighed. "The vows you make when you get married, do you know what they are Elisha?"

"Well, they talk about loving and caring for your partner," the young woman said enthusiastically.

"Something comes after that," Ed said firmly. "Until death do us part. Meaning that you will be together until death takes you."

There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Uncle Ed, you're an idiot, you know that? My mom was talking to me about those vows. She says that she and my dad have agreed that if there is a life after death, they'll love each other then too. I think you'll see this girl again, and you'd better believe it."

Ed was silent for a couple of minutes, then he started laughing. "Thanks Elisha. Congrats on the engagement. I have to go now."

He hung up before the girl could say anything else, turning to look at the sketch of Winry Al had made for him a few years before. "Just think of that, Winry. We may not ever say until death do us part, but it'll be just the opposite. For us, it'll be till death we are parted."

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I would have made Roy Hughes' best man, but he would have been busy with his military career at the time, so I cut that idea.

I know a lot of people like the idea of Noah and Ed getting together, but . . . it just seems wrong to me. And if any of you have seen the OVA Kids, you'll note that they don't look like Noah at all. I'm EdWin all the way, clearly.

In any case, I'm actually disregarding "Kids" in this one-shot, but oh well.

I hope you enjoyed it! Review!