Ed had fallen asleep on the couch from exhaustion within ten minutes after the ordeal, while Roy nursed the scratches on his hand. He made sure Ed's blanket was tightly wrapped around the boy and gave him a gentle pat on the head. They had done it. Roy had touched Edward's eyes. He held them open while dripping the eyedrops into them. Ed was shaking but focused. Humming. Roy had never heard Edward sing. It wasn't unpleasant, though a bit strange. It seemed like he had found some happy place inside his mind. A comforting and beautiful memory that was stronger than the bad ones were.

Roy took advantage of the time the boy was asleep to call Riza Hawkeye. The dial town rung three times before Hawkeye answered.

"First Lt. Hawkeye," her voice responded, firmly and professional.

"Hi," Roy said.

"Colonel," she confirmed.

"Riza," he let out a slight cough, regaining his toneless voice, correcting himself. "Hawkeye. Would you mind coming by later? I'll make dinner."

"Is everything alright?" she asked, not budging from her professional tone.

"Yes. It's just... We had a rough time last night, that's all. I could use a break..." It was hard for Roy to admit to that, but he knew there was no way around it. He couldn't care for Edward if he was hardly conscious, himself.

"I'll be there at five," Hawkeye answered, cutting Roy off.

"Thank you, Riza."

She hung up. Roy couldn't help but smile from feeling the warm tingly sensation in his stomach at the thought of Riza coming by. Then he shrugged it off. She was there for Ed, after all.

The doorbell rang. Roy woke suddenly by the sound, looking around the room for Edward. Ed was laying on the couch still, clutching to his blanket, eyes wide open.

"Edward? Ed?" Mustang uttered, not knowing what state of mind the kid was in.

"I'm here. I just startled a little," Ed answered.

"Good. I'll get the door. It's probably just Hawkeye." Mustang got up, feeling chilly after being in deep sleep for the last hour. He tucked his grey knitted cardigan tightly around him and went to the door.

He was right.

He felt his own anxiety act up, realizing he had fallen asleep instead of starting dinner. He opened the door, his mind trying desperately to find a good excuse for the dinner not being ready. Hawkeye greeted with a nod, and put a bag of warm to-go bags into his arms and stepped inside.

"Hawk... Hey," he stated in surprise.

"I assumed you weren't up for cooking, so I stopped by a Xingese restaurant on my way over," she said as she removed her coat, revealing the fact that she had taken the time to change out of her uniform before leaving work. She was wearing a black turtleneck and blue jeans. Roy did already enjoy watching the tall female in her uniform but watching her in civilian clothes, always made his heart skip a beat.

"Thank you. And.. and you're quite right as usual," he confirmed.

"Fell asleep?" she asked.

"Resting my eyes," he replied bluntly.

"Good." She gave him a faint smile, before heading towards the living room, making sure that her footsteps were heard as she approached.

"Hello, Edward," she said in her soft alto voice. "I hope you like Xingese food."

"Hawkeye! Yeah, thank you, lieutenant," he answered with a smile, looking in her general direction.

"I'm coming over to you now," she explained calmly.

She went to the couch where Ed lay, sitting down a little above his head. He reached out to her, and she scootched closer, letting him rest his head on her lap. Roy couldn't help but feel just a small sting of jealousy.

But, it was also nice to see that, after all the years that he had known the boy, he was finally able to rely on the people around him. Not just his brother. He finally trusted that their affection and love for him was real and that he, just being him, was enough. He didn't always need to be Fullmetal.

Not that he really had a choice anymore.

Ed fell back asleep within minutes, completely worn-out after their long day at the hospital. All of the impressions of the outside world, not being able to see it, always left him feeling overwhelmed, hardly being able to keep his eyes opened for the rest of the day. This left Roy and Hawkeye to eat and talk among themselves.

"How has he been doing today, with Alphonse leaving?" Hawkeye asked, using her chopsticks to gather the noodles in her carton.

"Surprisingly well! We got some..." Roy was looking for the words. "...news," he settled with, "at the hospital today."

"Please, tell me."

"He's going to meet with an eye specialist this Thursday. Apparently one of the best there is."

"Well, that's..." Hawkeye hesitated.

"I know," Roy confirmed with a crooked smile (because that was just what it was). "We're trying not to get our hopes up."

"Of course," Hawkeye answered.

"It's no certainty that Ed will even be able to go through with the examination anyway, but still..." Roy thought for a bit. "Who knows? Maybe the doctor can figure something out. I want to think that there is some way out of this."

"You should," Riza replied.

"Yeah."

"And, you should get some sleep."

"He hasn't eaten yet."

"I'll make sure he eats."

"He needs his medicine."

"I'll make sure he takes it."

"Riza?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Roy got up from his armchair to retreat into his bedroom. Before leaving the room, he hesitated a little.

"Remember that he doesn't always know where he is when he wakes up."

Riza gave him an annoyed look.

"I'm completely aware of that." She had put down her meal and was fishing out some forms from Mustangs messenger bag, that had been placed next to her seat. Roy had been sitting there before falling asleep, meaning to get some work done.

"Are you forging my signature?" he asked with a grimace.

"Go to bed, Colonel."

Roy woke up, feeling refreshed and more rested than he had as far back as he could remember. He turned around in his king-sized bed, looking at the time. He felt the color drain from his face. Half past nine! How in the world could it be that late in the morning?

He got up, realizing he had slept with his clothes on, which wasn't that uncommon these days. He changed to a clean shirt and opened his bedroom door slowly, looking straight into Ed's open door. He wasn't in his bedroom.

"Edward?" He asked, loudly. No response. "Hawkeye?" he tried. He thought he could hear some sizzling from downstairs. He hurried barefoot down the steps and went for the kitchen where the sound came from. Hawkeye stood in front of the stove, cooking eggs. At the kitchen table, Ed was seated, eating what looked to be homemade buns. Roy must have looked completely dumbfounded.

"Are you not feeling well?" Riza asked while stirring the scrambled eggs in the frying pan.

"I... I feel better than I've felt in a long time," he answered truthfully, walking towards Ed.

"What are you eating?" he asked, carefully.

"Not eggs."

Roy looked to Hawkeye with a questioning look on his face.

"Apparently you like to cook eggs for breakfast," she explained.

"I don't think I like eggs," Ed added, with his mouth full. This was news to Roy.

"She's spoiling you rotten," Roy frowned, receiving a defiant pout from the kid in reply.

"Sit down, Colonel. Your eggs are almost ready," Riza stated firmly.

"I don't think I like eggs," Roy mimicked teasingly.

"Edward..." Riza said with strained softness to her voice.

"Go ahead," he answered expressionlessly.

Roy hardly had the time to duck as a spectacular was flung towards his head.

Apparently, I can't produce a long chapter these days. But, I have a lot of spare time right now, so hopefully, the updates will be frequent. I still haven't re-read Stairway To Paradise, which I probably need to do, to proceed. But I'll get around to it shortly.

Also, I will not write a summary of the original story. It's an amazing piece of writing, and if you enjoy fanfiction, you should really read it. This is RainFlame's original story- not mine. This is just an alternative ending.

Anyway! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!