A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, chickas! I'm glad that you all enjoy my work here, and I hope that you'll continue to let me know what you think. :D

"You're not going to school today, Al." Edward says, voice serious and eyes stern. His arms are crossed over his chest and he is staring down the other boy, who is still in his bed and half-covered by the light blue sheets.

"Brother, don't be so ridiculous! It's just a cold!" Alphonse insisits, and a moment later he gives a harsh cough. The noise is sharp and dry, and he winces as the air rakes against his suddenly sensitive throat.

Edward just stares at him. Several long minutes pass, and then the younger of the two sighs and turns his eyes away - and Edward has to resist the urge not to grin, because he always wins these arguements. Always.

"Good. I've already called and cancelled with your boss. She says to make sure you get better soon and that Kimblee will cover your shift until your feeling better." Edward explains. Then, before his brother can even begin to protest, he is rushing from the room and down the stairs.

Halfway down them, his automail knee locks up. He stumbles, the ankle of his good leg twisting when he does, and it is by pure luck that he manages to grab onto the railing and keep himself from falling down the stairs.

"Shit!" he pants, eyes clenched shut in pain. The nerves and muscles in his right leg are on fire - and for a moment he is stuck in the heat-filled place of his dreams, where everything is dark and burning and he is utterly alone.

Then he forces himself to open his eyes, takes a deep breath, and gently puts weight on his flesh leg. It holds. Relieved, he lets out a sigh and starts back down the stairs.

This time, he walks.

-x-x-x-

"Alright class, give me your attention." Maes claps his hands together, grinning out at his students. Behind him, the chalkboard is filled with a diagram of the human body. Several of the different parts have been circled with bright blue chalk, other is dark green, most in white.

Edward grins. Finally! This is something that can make the day a little better. If there is one thing that he knows, it is the human body and how different things can affect it. A lesson like this will be the perfect thing to get his mind off of his younger brother, who once again was forced to stay home.

This is the fifth day in one week - and, really, is it a wonder that Edward is starting to worry? Is it a wonder that his aunt has already made a doctor's appointment and that Winry is taking off from her own schooling so that she can stay home with Alphonse?

He doesn't think it is.

As soon as most of the class have stopped chattering, Maes motions to the board behind him. "This, students, is the human body! I'm sure that you recognized it and, if you didn't, well, then you may be in the wrong grade."

Several kids snicker. Edward grins just a little more.

"Today is the start of our semester project. It will count for fourty percent of your grade so, Barry, you may want to pay attention." Maes nods pointedly in the direction of the dozing Vance child, who gives him a sickly sweet expression of innocence. A pause, and then the teacher nods in the direction of another student. "I'm talking to you too, Roy."

Edward doesn't have to look in the other boys direction to know what he'll see. An arrogant expression on a pale face, dark eyes set in annoyed indifference. No doubt he will wave at Maes, grin, and then go right back to whatever non-school related activity he had already been doing.

The very thought of this other boy makes the smile slip from Edward's face. He doesn't even have to look in Roy's direction for the scowl to form on his lips instead.

-x-x-x-

With Alphonse not at school, Edward has no choice but to find a different table to sit at. the past few days, he has found empty seats and eaten alone. Yet, today, when he gets into the cafeteria he is met by the sight of packed tables and full seats.

So, trying hard to mask his nervousness with a look of indifference, he makes his way over to the table that Jean normally sits at.

The tawny haired man is there, as per usual. On one side of him is Roy, on the other a blonde girl whose name Edward has never learned. There is also a boy with glasses, who goes by the name of Kain, and a very familiar face that Edward isn't sure he wants to see that day.

Heymans Breda, who is one of Jean's closest friends.

Just like he did that day so many weeks ago, Edward sits down at the table without a word. Jean looks up, grins at him, then goes back to talking with Roy. Kain blinks, the girl keeps eating, and Breda frowns.

So, just like last time, he opens up his lunchbag without a word. Pulls out his sandwhich and his banana and starts to eat.

Halfway through, Roy breaks off from his conversation with Jean and turns to him. "Is that all you ever bring?"

Edward freezes, sandwhich halfway to his mouth. It is what he always brings, actually. The only thing he has brought for lunch since the day that he was let out of the hospital - the banana is required and the sandwhich, peanut butter and jelly today, is cheap and quick to make.

Lowering his lunch, Edward scowls at the other boy. "What's it to you?"

Silence, then amusement - and the sight of Roy's lips quirking up like that sends a jolt of rage through Edward.

"Just curious, really." Roy says, waving one hand through the air. Indifference once more settles on his face and he half turns back to face Jean. "I simply find it amusing that you're my age and still bring your own lunch."

The girl, it seems, is the only one paying attention enough to see the change on Edward's face. Embarressment dances across his cheeks for a moment, then his face twists into one of anger and distaste.

"Fuck you!" Edward snarls - and everyone turns to look at him as he snatches up the remains of his lunch and bolts from the table, dissapearing quickly into the crowded lunchroom.

"Way to go, Roy." Jean says, shaking his head.

Roy just frowns.

-x-x-x-

Edward doesn't have to ask around to find the answer to his unasked question. He can see it in the way that Roy walks, in the brand-name clothes that he wears, and in the cocky smirk that always seems to dance across his face.

Roy Mustang has never felt the cold that comes from being without parents. Never felt the burden of knowing someone depends on him. Never been in so much pain he doesn't know what to do or what to say or who to go too.

Roy Mustang lives in Uptown Central, with a loving family and hands that have never known a long days work.