I love Izumi and Sig so much and I could watch a mini series of them being great and awesome pseudo-parents :') Also, I really like Mason and wish he had more screen time in the anime, but if you don't really know who he is, he is the Curtises employee but he also helps look after (and also...kinda roughs up) the boys when they are training on the island.

Characters: Izumi, Sig, Mason, Ed and Al (And a Mei Chang cameo!)

Relationship: Good ol' family bonding.

Welcome Back to the World of the Living

Ed's arm ached in a way he hadn't felt in a long time as he managed a few curls with one of the weights the hospital had supplied them. The wound from his surgery was mostly healed and he wasn't really supposed to be weight lifting yet but he had never been the patient sort and he wanted to regain the lost muscle mass quickly.

Sadly, even after only a couple of reps his arm began to hurt and his face betrayed his pain.

Al looked up from what he was writing to frown and scold his older brother. "Ed, you shouldn't be doing that yet. You're just going to hurt yourself."

"I know, I know," Ed mumbled, rolling his shoulder and attempting a couple more.

"Brother! You're going to open your wound again."

"Sheesh, okay," Ed grumbled, setting aside the weight, not wanting to admit he agreed and that his arm was screaming in pain. "You're worse than Winry when it comes to maintaining automail."

"Yeah, well, you suck at that, too," Al shot back in a teasing voice before returning to what he was writing.

Ed had a come back prepared but he got distracted as he noticed Al writing in his blue journal- wasn't that for the stuff he wanted to eat when he got his body back? What could he be adding now?

"Hey, whatcha writin?"

Al practically jumped at Ed's voice just over his shoulder. Al quickly closed his journal and said, "Oh, nothing!"

Ed had only been mildly curious before but after that reaction the hint of a blush on his younger brother's face he really wanted to know then.

"C'moooon," he whined, "let me see!"

"No, you'll just laugh like you did when I said I wanted to eat Winry's apple pie!"

"No, I won't!" Ed objected and tried to desperately grab at the journal Al kept just out of his reach.

Before their squabble could turn into an all out brawl there came a knock on the door and when they saw who stepped through the door they both forgot about the journal completely.

"Teacher!" Both boys exclaimed.

Izumi Curtis stepped into the room followed by her husband Sig and Mason. She had a smirk on her face.

"Are we… interrupting something?"

"What are you doing here?" Ed asked as the three came to stand by Al's bed.

"Figured we would stop by and pay our favorite guys a visit," Izumi replied. Sig and Izumi took turns giving the boys hugs then Mason gave them both fist bumps.

"Lookin' good there, Alphonse," Mason said with a broad grin.

Al returned the smile and said, "It's nice seeing you again!"

"Not to be rude, but you seem a lot shorter since the last time I saw you," Mason jested and Al had to laugh. He was very glad not to be seven foot tall anymore. "So how's hospital life treating you two? Going stir crazy yet?"

"Kinda," Ed replied, bitterly. "They don't really let you do anything here, and have a strict No Fun policy."

"No fun policy?" Izumi asked, arching a brow.

"No, they have a "no riding the back of your brother's wheelchair and crashing into medical carts" policy," Al said flatly.

Izumi shot Ed a stern look but Mason and Sig both laughed.

"Well, you gotta do something to liven up this place or you'll go insane," Mason said with a grin and Ed nodded.

"Yeah, most of the time they just prod us with stuff or come bend my arm back until I think it's gonna break. And we keep getting harassed by news reporters and the media, so we never get any peace."

"Reporters?"

"No one really understands what really happened so the military is trying to keep things hushed up for a bit so people don't freak out more than they are," Al explained soberly. "So, we've been ordered to keep silent about everything until the military offers a proper statement."

"People shouldn't be bothering you two while you're recuperating," Izumi said with a frown. "You're just kids after all."

"Apparently word of the famous Elric brothers' involvement has gotten out, so," Ed shrugged in a "what are you gonna do" sort of way. Izumi opened her mouth as if to tell him exactly what she was going to do when Ed then noticed Mason had a couple of bags in his hand.

"What's with the bags?"

"Oh! Also, we come bearing gifts," Mason replied with another smile and held them out.

Mason set the bags on Al's bed and after Alphonse rifled through them he realized they were all filled with...

"Clothes?" Al pulled out a couple of t-shirts and a pair of black pants.

"They're mostly just some of Mason's old things," Izumi explained. "They'll be a bit big on you but we figured Sig's clothes would absolutely drown you."

"Oh, they're for me? You don't have to do that," Al replied, sounding a bit bashful. "I don't want to take Mason's clothes."

"Yeah, well a little blonde birdy told us someone needed some new clothes," Izumi replied with smile, winking at Ed. Al glared at his brother for making people worry about him while Ed glared at Izumi for the "little" remark (he kept all retorts to himself, though, for fear of Izumi's wrath extending his hospital stay).

"Don't look at me like that," Ed grumbled at his brother. "I just mentioned it in passing, this is all their idea."

"Well, thank you all, so much," Al said gratefully, glad he had people who cared about him.

"Don't thank us yet," Izumi went on. "These are just so you have something presentable when we go out."

"G-go out?"

"Yup! You've been cooped up in here for long enough, right? We figured we'd take you both out for a real meal and pick you up some nice clothes, Al."

Ed pumped both arms in the air in excitement, ready to ditch this hell hole, but Al balked at the notion of the Curtises spending so much money on him.

"Teacher- ah- thank you, but you really don't have to, I'm fine with just this-"

He was cut off by the dark, fiery look Izumi gave him and he shrank back in fear.

"Are you telling me what I can and can't do, Alphonse Elric?" She asked in a menacing voice, cracking her knuckles.

"N-n-no," Al squeaked in a tiny voice. Izumi smiled and was suddenly sunshine and rainbows when she said,

"Okay, then, that's settled. Get dressed and then we will decide where to eat."

A few minutes later Izumi, Sig, and Mason had stepped out to let the boys change. Ed had quickly dug out some torn up black jeans and a red sweatshirt; the clothes were a bit big for him as well, but they sagged off Al's thin frame.

Ed wondered if that's why it took Alphonse so long to change. He was pretty sure Al had tried on each pair of pants three times and each shirt six. He would pull something on then grumble about it then switch it for something else.

"Hurry up," Ed whined, "I'm dying to eat some real food again."

"Oh, gee, I wonder what that feels like," Al replied sarcastically, pulling on a blue tank top then tugging where the collar fell past his collar bone.

"You know what I mean. And it doesn't matter what you wear, you heard Teacher, we're going to get you some proper clothes anyway."

"Yeah, I know, it's dumb," Al agreed with a laugh, taking the tank top off again and looking through all his options. "I can't believe they really want to take us out."

"Yeah," Ed smiled, then, a bit more seriously, "that's okay with you right? I really didn't think they had something like this planned. If you don't want to go yet, I can tell them…"

"No, I'm actually really excited," Al said with a smile. "I can't wait to go out and people actually see me as a human again."

Ed smiled, relieved. That was all he had wanted for the last five years.

Al finally settled on some khaki slacks (that had to be rolled up a bit at the bottom) and a dark grey turtleneck (because he could pull the sleeves over his bony hands and it hid his thin neck). None of it fit very well but he hoped that the roominess would help hide how emaciated he looked.

When they called that they were dressed, Izumi stepped back in and smiled at them both.

"Well, don't you boys look nice. Sig's at the front desk talking about checking you out right now. Now, where do you boys want to eat?"

They spent a few minutes rambling off different places and Al was so excited about each one it was hard to pick. They were all laughing when Sig came back in, frowning.

"What's wrong, dear?" Izumi asked.

"They said we can't take the boys out until they are properly discharged."

"What? Why not? They're fine and only being kept as a precaution at this point."

"Apparently, without proper legal guardians, they're considered wards of the state and we have no say in when they can or can't leave. I'm sorry, boys," Sig said with a frown, obviously heartbroken that he couldn't spend the day with the Elric brothers.

Both Ed and Al exchanged defeated looks of disappointment.

Izumi's frown turned into a deep, angry grimace. She apparently wasn't willing to accept this as quickly as her husband. Despite her angry expression her voice was calm and almost sweet as she said,

"Wait here, dear. I'd like to have a word with them."

Ed and Al never found out what Izumi said to change their minds, but ten minutes later the Elrics were signing out for temporary leave from the hospital while all the nearby doctors and nurses seemed to shake as their Teacher walked by.

"Alright," Izumi said with a bright smile on her face and hands on her hips. "First thing's first- time to get you boys some proper clothes."

"Wha?" Ed said in surprise. "Both of us? I've still got some clothes back home, so-"

"You seem to have grown a little bit taller, there, Edward," Sig replied with a small smile. "I think you could do with an updated wardrobe, too."

Ed didn't argue anymore after that, eyes filled with tears that someone had finally called him tall. They followed Mason, Sig and Izumi to the nearest clothing shop, passing a lot of shops on their way. Al wasn't strong enough to manage such a trek in his current state so Ed pushed him in a wheelchair they borrowed from the hospital. Al was so excited by absolutely everything, he was constantly turning about in his seat and exclaiming at (relatively mundane) things.

Ed thought Al was going to lose it when they passed by a bakery. Al practically knocked the wheelchair over as he craned to get a good look at all the breads and pastries in the window.

"Would you calm down and sit still!" Ed snapped. "You're gonna run over my one good foot."

"Brother, look! Look at all the cakes they have," Al was so excited he completely ignored Ed's muttering and cupped his hands about his face to get a better look at the goods in the window. Ed sighed, defeated. He glanced up where Izumi, Sig and Mason were discussing directions with a local. He figured they had a little time to kill and he rolled his little brother into the bakery.

The bell jingled above the door as they entered and a young woman greeted them warmly. She did a double take at Al's appearance but had the good nature not to say anything. Luckily, Al didn't seem to notice the weird looks he got from the shop keeper or other customers, he was too distracted by all the amazing smells.

"Ooh, what's this one?" He asked pointing at a row of jiggly palm sized cakes.

"Something that will rot your teeth out," Ed said with a laugh. Al didn't seem to care nor could he seem to be able to pick which one he thought he wanted to try first. "Al, we're getting lunch soon, you'll ruin your appetite."

"But look how good these pastries look," Al said, looking not at all his 15 years and every bit like a six year old in a candy shop. Ed wilted and smiled, figuring if Al wanted to eat his weight in junk food, he had more than earned it.

"All right, all right, pick something but don't tell, Teacher."

"Can I help you two with anything?" The young woman behind the counter finally asked after having rung up the customers before them.

"Excuse me, but what are these?" Al asked.

"Oh, those are Cotton Cheesecakes. They're very light and fluffy, made with milk and cream and sugar and topped with fruit and powdered sugar."

Ed thought the description alone would make his stomach turn but Al looked excited and said he wanted to try one.

"Al, if you eat that you'll puke. Are you sure?"

Ed sighed as Al nodded and started fishing some money out of his pocket. Before he could hand over the money Izumi walked in.

"There you two are- what are you doing?"

"Whoops, busted," Ed said with a grin. He explained Al wanted to try some sweets and Izumi sighed.

"All right, but get something that won't ruin your appetite. You too, Ed," Izumi insisted and nudged his hand to put his money away. Ed chuckled with glee despite his earlier protests and while the boys talked over what they wanted Izumi leaned against the counter with a wistful smile.

The shop keeper leaned in and said quietly,

"What nice boys, are they yours?"

Izumi chuckled. "Uh, yeah, kind of."

The shopkeeper smiled again and began wrapping up the crepes Ed and Al had selected. While they were busy looking at an assortment of cookies to possibly purchase for Winry, Izumi got ready to checkout but the shopkeeper leaned in to whisper,

"Is… is it okay for him to have these?"

Izumi was confused until the pointed look the lady gave Alphonse behind his back. Ah.

"Yes, it's fine," Izumi replied curtly, hoping she didn't sound too snippy. The shop lady picked up on her tone and dropped Izumi's cenz into the till without saying anything else, a slight blush on her cheeks as she handed over their snacks.

The boys gratefully accepted the crepes and playfully bickered over who would get the bigger one. Ed playfully kept both of them just out of Al's reach and they were making a bit of a ruckus arguing so the shop keeper leaned in and asked, "I'm so sorry, but… is he going to be okay? Is he… sick?"

Dying, Izumi translated in her head. Izumi followed the woman's pointed look at Al who had finally managed to wrestle his treat back from Ed- both boys were laughing as Ed finally pushed Al back outside.

She smiled.

"No. He… was. But he's getting better now."

Ed felt more than awkward when they finally got to the clothing shop. The place was clearly directed at teens and young adults but it was a lot nicer fashion than he was used to. Ed was perfectly content in jeans and a t-shirt but he had to admit Al seemed excited about wearing something a bit nicer.

Izumi and Sig both insisted the boys pick out a few things, but Al seemed a bit self conscious about buying something he was going to outgrow soon anyway.

A tailor took both of their measurements. Ed fretted the whole time and wiggled, uncomfortable with anyone who was armed with measuring tape- his true height was a secret only he (and, his mechanic) knew and he would take it to his grave if he could.

Finally, Ed was fitted in some nice jeans and a sweatshirt. Al shot him a look as he stepped out of a changing room.

"Is that really what you're wearing, brother?"

"What? It's comfy!" Ed said with a grin as he rolled up his sleeves. Al resisted the urge to roll his eyes and entered the changing room next. After several minutes had passed, Ed began to sweat, wondering if Al had maybe passed out (you're being paranoid, he's fine!) and just when he was about to call out to him, Al stepped out.

Ed grinned. Al definitely had a better taste in clothes than he had. He had on some slim fit khakis, and a black v-neck sweater over a starched white collar shirt. Everything fit much better than Mason's old stuff did but was just a bit roomy so he could still grow into them.

Al was fiddling with a tie loose about his neck, his cheeks going the same shade of red as the tie.

"Do you… do you know how to tie one of these?"

"Uuuuhhh…" Ed muttered and made an attempt.

"You boys okay?" Came Sig's soft voice from behind them a moment later. Both flinched and Sig laughed at the knotted mess Ed had made of Al's tie.

Sig stepped up and untied it and retied it perfectly, going slow to show Al the steps. Al flushed a bit again and smoothed it out, giving a small grateful, "Thank you, Mr. Sig."

When they emerged from the fitting area, Izumi and Mason greeted them both with broad smiles.

"Well, don't you look nice," Izumi said to them both while Mason clapped Alphonse about the shoulders (almost knocking the frail boy off his feet).

"Looking good man," he said jovially. "Welcome back to the world of the living."

Shortly after, they packed up their extra purchases and Mason volunteered to take them back to the hospital then meet up with everyone at the restaurant they picked. Ed and Sig helped load everything into a cab and for a moment it was just Izumi and Al.

Al was using a borrowed walking crutch from the hospital, resting on it with one hand and fiddling with his clothes and hair with the other, checking himself in the mirror. He was unaware of the way his former teacher watched him, misty eyed and in awe.

"Do I really look okay?" Al asked quietly when Izumi stepped up beside him.

"Of course, Alphonse. You look wonderful," Izumi replied warmly.

She watched as Al's expression fell and he averted his eyes.

"Are you okay, Al?"

"Everyone… looks at me like I'm… really sick. That lady thought I was dying, didn't she?" Izumi had forgotten how perceptive Al could be and that made her heart ache. He laughed a little self consciously but she could hear the emotion bubbling under his voice. "I just want to yell, "no! I'm alive! I'm living! Finally!"

He chuckled a bit to himself as he diverted his gaze from his teacher. "That's pretty dumb isn't it? Sorry…"

"No, it's not."

Al was in turn shocked by the emotion in his teacher's voice and balked when he saw tears in her eyes.

"Wha- no, Teacher, please don't-" he cut himself off when she stepped up and gently pulled him into a warm hug. He didn't know what to say so after a moment he just wrapped his arms around her in return (a little awkward with the walking stick and all).

"I'm okay- I promise- I'm sorry, I'm okay, really," he muttered into her shoulder. She was still a bit taller than him. Despite his words of comfort (and slight embarrassment) Al was actually really grateful for her to hold him like that- he had been hugged several times since returning to his body and he quickly found it to be one of his favorite things.

"I know you are," her voice was a hoarse whisper, fighting back more tears. Alphonse felt terrible, he was not a fan of making women cry and he just wanted to make her happy again. Sadly, he didn't realize, Izumi was happy and that's exactly why she was crying. "I know you're okay, and you're going to keep being okay, and you are alive."

She pulled back finally, smiling and wiping at her tear stained face. Al frantically searched his pockets for his new handkerchief but she laughed it off and used her own sleeve instead.

After a moment she straightened up and gave him a scrutinizing look, then straightened his tie a bit. She cocked her head a bit then smiled.

"Would you look at that, you look just like your father," she said.

"Really?"

Al smiled and couldn't hide the little bit of pride that made him feel. Ed may not have been the biggest fan of their dad but Al was hoping now that everything had calmed down they could rebuild their relationship from the ground up.

"Have you heard from him, yet?"

"No," Al admitted. "He ran off, that day, and we haven't seen him since. He probably still has a lot of stuff to take care of though!"

Al sounded quick to defend his father and also a bit optimistic about the man returning. The fact that the man hadn't shown up since that battle… that didn't sit well with Izumi and she assumed it wouldn't bode well for the Elric boys either, but she chose not to say anything for now.

Sig and Ed returned then and they began discussing lunch plans and they left the shop together, a ragtag little family in their own right.

Mason whistled a little tune to himself as he carried the Elric brothers' bags and packages over one shoulder. He waved good naturedly at one of the nurses, who paled when she saw him- apparently, she still recalled Izumi's wrath and didn't want to deal with any of her party.

He chuckled a little bit then entered the boys' room, picking up the discarded clothes from before and then setting each of their things at the ends of their beds. He stood there for a moment, hands on hips, looking at all the flowers, assorted thank you baskets, rows of get well cards- it was hard to believe that those wily blonde brats Izumi had taken under her wing so many years ago had made this big of an impact on so many people. Mason had started viewing the Curtises as family after they had helped him out of some hard times back in the day, and he had grown fond of the Elric brothers as well, thinking of them as his own sort of little brothers in a way. He was glad they were doing okay.

He was on his way out when the timid nurse from before peeked around the corner.

"Um, excuse me sir, are the Elric boys with you?"

"No," he said warily, hoping they weren't really expecting them back so soon. "Just dropping some stuff off."

"Oh, I see, well," the woman fumbled a bit with a pad of paper. "Well, they have a caller on the phone- and, um, I suppose they can't take a call if they aren't here, so…"

Mason gave the woman a kind smile. Wow, Izumi really did a number on these guys, he thought.

"Caller, huh?" He remembered the way the boys said they had been harassed by news reporters. He figured it was one of them. "What did he say?"

"It's, um, a girl, actually. She says she knows the Elrics…"

A girl, huh? Maybe it was Ed's mechanic, that Winry girl he got all flustered about?

Mason said he would take the call on their behalf; he wasn't sure if that was typically allowed but he got the feeling she would let him do whatever he wanted after tasting Izumi's wrath.

"Y'ello?"

"Um, hello?" Wow, this girl sounded way too young to be the squirt's girlfriend. "I'm supposed to be connected to the Elric brother's room. Who is this?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Mason said with a sardonic laugh. The girl sounded suddenly haughty and defensive after that.

"My name is Mei Chang, I'm calling from Xing. I was told this is where they are staying so may I please talk with one of them?"

"From Xing, huh?" Mason played along, assuming this was some kid playing a prank after hearing about all the hubbub. "That's pretty far away there, kiddo."

If she had been haughty before she was downright angry at being called "kiddo."

"Excuse you, sir, but I'll have you know I am not some child and am in fact the Seventeenth Daughter of His Imperial Highness and Princess of Xing." Mason had to bite back his laughter, tears pricking his eyes. "I am trying to check on Edward and Alphonse Elric, so would you please let them know I called?"

"Sure thing, Princess," Mason said, hardly hiding the amusement in his voice. "Sadly, they aren't here right now."

"They aren't there?" She sounded genuinely crestfallen; maybe her friends had put her up to this and she didn't want to disappoint them? "Where… where did they go?"

"Out for a bit," Mason said curtly, growing hungry and tired of this game.

"Oh… okay. Will you at least let them know I called?" The girl rattled off a number they could return her call with but Mason didn't bother to write it down. He wasn't about to bother the boys with some kids' prank.

"Sure, thing, kiddo," Mason said with a grin and then he said bye and hung up quickly before the girl could scold him again.

A little while later Mason, Sig, Izumi, Ed and Al were all being seated at a nice Aerugonian restaurant.

Most of their time was spent playfully bickering and discussing what everyone should get.

Alphonse was mentally running through his list of "Food I Want to Eat" but was torn with all his options. In the end they all got something different and tried a bit of everyone's.

Al was so stuffed he didn't think he could manage dessert but when they showed him all the options that involved ice cream he caved and got a sundae to split with Ed.

In his excitement, sadly, he took way too big a bite and doubled over in pain.

Izumi and Ed both tensed up, afraid he had overdone it when he brought a slender hand to his head and looked up, teary eyed and mumbled, "B-brainfreeze."

Everyone laughed at him but Al didn't care. He had ice cream.

When they were finally back in their hospital room, Al was secretly grateful. Even though he hadn't really done that much he was both mentally and emotionally exhausted. Being human really took it out of you.

After the Curtises and Mason gave them all good bye hugs, Alphonse practically collapsed on his bed and groaned.

"You alright over there, buddy?" Ed asked with a chuckle in his voice.

"The nurses were right," came Al's muffled voice from the pillows. "I am so tired and sore right now."

Ed laughed but wondered if they really had over exerted him in their excitement. Healing and recovering were Al's number one priority right now, and he hoped they hadn't set him back any.

"Do I need to get a doctor, or…"

"No," Al said with a smile, looking up from his pillow. "It's a good kind of tired and sore."

Ed smiled and flopped back onto his bed as well. He couldn't wait til he and Al were released for real and they could go home and see Winry and Granny again. He knew Al had to be excited about it as well and he would give anything to see the look on Winry's face when he brought his little brother home, in the flesh. Al was still a long way off from going home anytime soon so he was grateful the Curtises had come by to cheer Al up.

Ed and Al relaxed on their beds for a bit and Ed honestly thought Al had fallen asleep after all the exertion so he jumped a little when he heard Al say, "It's so weird."

Al turned to him and smiled at Eds puzzled look.

"You know, just…" his younger brother made a broad gesture with his hands. "Everything. It's like a dream. I knew we always talked about getting our bodies back but… to think we actually did it."

"Yeah, I know. I can't believe it either. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and panic cause you're not sitting there, in your armor, next to me," Ed admitted with a regretful laugh. Al laughed too. "I still can't believe everything worked out." Ed flexed his hands, still adjusting to not having alchemy. "And without using a philosopher's stone."

Al made an "mm-hmm" reply and Ed thought his brother suddenly looked far away and contemplative, his cheery mood all but gone.

"I… I used one," Al said quietly after a moment.

"What?" Ed could hardly hear him. Al pushed himself up off his back so he sat raised up on his elbows.

"A philosopher's stone. I used one back when I was fighting Pride at the dome. I- … I didn't want to but Mr. Heinkel was hurt and Kimblee was there and-... I didn't know what else to do. I didn't want to use it but I had to, brother."

"Hey, it's okay," Ed said in a soothing tone. Al still spoke quietly but sounded almost in hysterics by the end of his little speech. "You're not like Kimblee. You were trying to help people, it's not the same as what they were doing."

"Yeah. I know that." Al's hands fidgeted with the hem of his shirt a bit. "It still feels terrible though. Using…people."

"Yeah, I… I know what ya mean," Ed replied softly. Al gave him a curious look and Ed sighed then explained how he had used the souls attached to Envy when transmuting themselves out of Gluttony's belly.

At the end of his tale, Al kind of looked sick but he nodded and said, "I'm sorry you had to go through that, too, brother."

"Yeah," Ed said with a shaky breath. It was hard enough at the time but reliving it as he told his brother made it feel so real again. He hated that Alphonse knew what it felt like to use a living soul as an energy source, but he also felt a bit of solace knowing that it was something they went through together.

They had shared a penance for years, no reason to change that now.

They were both quiet for a while after that, each lost in thought and neither brave enough to ask what the other was thinking.

Welcome back to the world of the living, Ed thought, recalling Mason's words. After all the grief and sorrow and death left in their wake, he truly hoped that it really would welcome them back.

Dun dun dunnnnn~ What was Al writing in his journal? Will Mason ever tell the boys they got a phone call!? Is Winry's apple pie REALLY that great!? Tune in next week to find out! (or...whenever I update again. eep)Thanks for all the reviews guys, they really mean a lot to me. I havent replied to any yet but I may try to next chap! Any suggestions on who you want to read about next?

How many times did we say "brother" this chap? Answer: 21. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)