Author's Notes: Chapter three has now been re-released! Enjoy, my animal friends! -armstrong sparkle-

His smile was so happy and so clear. His light brunette hair looked like it had been ruffled and his eyes glittered with happiness and bliss. Edward Elric fingered the brass edge of the picture frame, looking with sad eyes at the photograph of Alphonse and himself. He had never been able to tell, not once, that Al was emotionally sick and distraught. He didn't even know how long his brother had been struggling! If Al had just said something then maybe...

"I could've saved him..." Ed murmured, letting his flesh fingers brush against the frame one last time before he looked away.

The blonde trudged back over to his bed and lay upon it, looking up at the speckled white ceiling. From outside, he could hear the faint rumblings of a storm nearing. He sighed and shut his eyes. Maybe the storm would drown out his thoughts of Al and he could actually get some sleep tonight.

"Great, a storm!" Envy thought as he placed a pallid hand on a bony hip and looked up at the darkening sky. A dark tendril of greenish hair fluttered in front of his eyes as the wind picked up and he sighed.

"I don't want to get stuck in this mess!" He concluded silently as he looked off in the distance towards the military dorms. He saw the faint flicker of a lamp from the room just three floors up and the seventh window from the left side. Edward Elric's room.

"The twerp probably doesn't want me around." He muttered as he sat in the tree in which he was perched. "I know I pushed him over the top the other day but..." His look of tranquil thought was interrupted with a look of pure sadistic pleasure. "It was so much fun!"

Standing, he headed towards Edward's dorm room, ready for round two.

Rain pelted the earth and slowly lulled the depressed blonde into a half-sleep. Though he was still greatly troubled, the sounds of the rain outside helped sooth him. Little did he know that a certain shape-shifting Homunculus was staring at him from just outside his window.

When Envy was convinced that Ed was too drowsy to notice him, he slipped inside. The room was lit only by a small oil lamp; but the warm glow it cast was welcoming. Envy shook his head to perhaps dry himself off a bit. Instead, he ended up rousing the sleeping blonde.

"What the..." Edward sat up and stared at his arm, which was covered in small droplets of rain water. Looking up, he saw the all-too-familiar Sin, Envy. He rose immediately, tensing for a fight. The Sin giggled at Ed's reaction to his presence.

"Calm down, O'Chibi, I'm not here to fight."

Edward faltered for a moment, almost as if he was considering whether or not to believe Envy. Relieved, Envy began to sit down. But, something must have clicked in Ed's mind and he lunged for the Sin.

"Get out!" The blonde yelled, pulling his fist back and taking a swing. Envy dodged the blow with ease, causing Ed to stumble forward and run into the squat dresser before him. Envy chuckled at Ed's clumsiness.

"Edo, don't fight. I told you I'm not here to hurt you. Just to...send my condolences, that's all." A cocky smirk followed this statement and caused Edward to grow even angrier. He scrambled to his feet and swung again, this time missing completely. Envy, however, in an attempt to assure that he would miss the blow, jumped backwards. His elbow jerked backwards and knocked over the picture frame of Alphonse and Edward. The frame clattered to the ground, the glass within it bursting. Edward ceased his attack to stare incredulously at Envy and the broken mess just behind his feet. His amber eyes smoldered with hatred and distress. Shoving the Sin out of the way, Edward hurriedly gathered up the glass and frame. The picture fluttered lightly out of its casing and onto the floor. Envy stared sadly at the picture, realizing then how much Edward really did miss his brother. Though he could not show his sympathy, he merely smirked amusedly at the blonde who was trying desperately to fix the frame. But, no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't find the heart in transmuting it. In defeat, he set it on the dresser top.

"Why aren't you trans--"

"Get out." Edward hissed to the Sin angrily. Envy was taken back by the severity in the Alchemist's voice.

"What?" Envy countered.

"I said...GET OUT!" Edward now roared, punching the vulnerable and startled Envy in the abdomen. Stumbling backwards, Envy got the hint and scrambled from the room, disappearing into the torrents of rain that battered the earth now.

He hadn't meant to break the stupid frame! If he had wanted to, he would've take the liberty of taking the photo and ripping that to shreds too! But now Edward thought he was purposely trying to ruin his life. Of course, he's been accused correctly of such acts before so it didn't surprise him that the blonde twerp would jump to such conclusions. Regardless, he hadn't attacked him before and so what reason would he have now? But still, Envy had tried to kill Edward on other circumstances...

Edward was stupid. That's all there is too it, Envy silently concluded as he took shelter in the branches of a tree just across Ed's room. A dark silhouette could be seen beyond the now closed window and curtains and he saw that Ed had his head in his hands. The poor boy was so alone and so sad. Envy grinned. Al should've died a long time ago if he had known Edward was going to act this way!

Envy had a heart but that heart was corrupted with the underlying blood lust that came with being a power-hungry Homunculus. And with that blood lust came the carelessness for others and the joy of others' pain. And so, as the Sin watched the blonde sob into his hands while sitting at the edge of his bed, he couldn't help but grin in elated bliss.

"That jerk!" Edward sobbed as he stared at the broken picture frame that rested on his dresser. The small shards of glass shimmered in the lamp's glow and seeing the now bent face of Alphonse only broke Ed's heart more as he continued to cry. He hated being so vulnerable and weak and now Envy was in town and ready to feed off his misery like a hateful and obnoxious little parasite. It was dark outside and all the crying that Ed had done had caused him to be exhausted. He had felt so extremely tired lately – though he wasn't surprised. Every time he closed his eyes, he would end up seeing fleeting images of Alphonse flicker in his mind like a roll of film until he woke up sobbing and wailing all over again. But, Ed knew that he'd at least get an hour or two of sleep and that would be enough to pull him through another heart-wrenching and miserable day...

"I hate myself for this. I'm going soft. I hate myself. I. Hate. My. Freakin'. Self!" Envy self-scolded as he watched Edward fall asleep. The oil lamp was out and Edward was tucked safely into his bed. Peering over the grainy stone window ledge, Envy spotted the broken frame; it shimmered in the post-storm moonlight. Easily, he managed to shake open the window (though with much strained effort to remain silent). Slipping in, he ducked down below the bed frame just in case Ed were to wake. Practically slithering to the dresser, he reached up and grabbed the frame and it's broken contents. Slowly, he flattened out the picture and proceeded to pull out a similar, yet nicer frame that he had purchased earlier that evening after Ed had kicked him out. He still beat himself up for being such a soft-hearted Sin...

"Thank you! Come back again!" Came the light-hearted voice of the perky old man who sold the stupid tourist trinkets.

"Will do!" Envy responded, wincing at his own high-pitched voice. He looked down at his alien arms now, which was covered in a stylish cardigan sweater. His newly polished fingers clutched a small paper bag that contained the new picture frame for Ed's stupid picture. Since the blonde cared so much about the picture, he might as well get him to shut up about it and buy him a new frame. So, Envy walked casually through the streets going unrecognized and no one more than just a simple and fragile young woman in her mid-20's.

And that is what brought him into Ed's domain again – risking his well-being for the sake of Ed's sanity. Slipping the new frame out of it's soft plastic covering, he opened it, slid the now flattened picture into it, snapped it into place and set it up so it would be the first thing Edward saw in the morning. Quickly, he gathered up the remains of his old frame and put it in the bag that had contained his purchase. And then, as a last-minute decision he scribbled a quick note on the back of the frame using the blood of his pinky finger. It was vulgar, but it would have to do. Making sure everything was in place, he disappeared from the room to wait for morning.

Edward woke refreshed the next morning, much to his pleasant surprise. The best part for the blonde was the fact that he was carefree for a moment or two upon waking up. He was disheveled and confused before everything hit him again and the depression would set in and ruin his entire day. But, at least his heart had a few moments of peace. But, the first thing to catch his eye was his picture, his most treasured possession as of now, standing proud and glimmering brilliantly in a brand new frame. He stood up, too shocked for words as he approached the frame as though in a dream. Slowly, he reached out, fearful that the frame would shatter beneath his touch.

"Who could've done this?" Ed wondered aloud. Little did he know that a certain shape-shifting Homunculus was just outside the window, disguised as a full-grown orange tabby cat. Envy's tail flicked in anticipation at Ed's reaction as he figured out who had done such a kindly act. It was then, just as he had hoped, the Edward flipped the frame over to inspect it further. The blonde's eyes widened in shock as he read the note that had been left.

"No...way..." Edward whispered as he reread the message over and over again.

Written on the back of the frame, in a dark crusty red, were the words, "I'm sorry. -Envy."