Sorry I'm so late on this chapter! I don't usually update when I say I will... ^.^;

A few more notes about what's going to happen in this story and some of it's features:

I use "he" pronouns for Envy, although he isn't male (He's agender/nonbinary/genderfluid). I do this simply because most of the fandom prefers to use "he" pronouns, so it'll be less jarring for some readers, and the English anime uses "he" pronouns. I'll address the gender thing in-story later.

Also, this story is now published on Wattpad! Same username and title apply over there.

I have an 8tracks playlist for this story called Dwarf in the Flask / SYMPATHY, which is sort of a mix of the songs I'm using for inspiration. If you look around on my 8tracks profile, I also have several other non-related Edvy playlists.

I apologize if anything doesn't make sense. I'm setting it up for later. Also, if this chapter is particularly slow, it's because I need to set up plot devices and how who got where and when. Trust me, writing this chapter was hell. The next one will be fun!

Okay, I think that's it! Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Flesh and Bone

It had been just over a month since the Promised Day, and Ed was getting restless waiting for Alphonse to recover.

"You know, maybe if you stopped pacing, you'd send the world spiraling into the sun." Al commented mirthfully from his recovery room bed as Ed stomped another circle into the linoleum. Ed frowned and forced himself to hold still.

"Sorry, Al. I guess I'm just not used to staying in place for long. That, and, well..." Ed glanced over at the jar that held the Philosopher's Stone.

Ed and Al had their suspicions when they first received the stone, but when the stone would randomly start to produce a tiny arm, or half-formed muscle or organ, they knew exactly what it was. Edward almost threw a fit, finding out that they were supposed to baby-sit this incomplete homunculus. Al would have laughed at Ed's reaction if he weren't just as confused and conflicted.

Al craned his neck as Ed walked over to the jar again, checking for the hundredth time if the stone had managed to keep more than the occasional muscle from dissolving into dust.

"Any idea which one of the homunculi it is, brother?" Alphonse asked curiously.

Ed sighed and ran a hand through his bangs. "Not yet. The damn thing can't even keep itself together, and yet we're supposed to look after it? What was Hohenheim thinking...?"

Al shifted back into the pillows with a sigh, his gold eyes fluttering in disappointment. His brother was quite cranky about this situation. Actually, Al thought, they didn't quite know the full situation themselves. Both of them still had no clue as to why Hohenheim had left them with the stone, or even what they were supposed to do with it.

Al noticed Ed was doing that thing again, where he obsessed over the stone like it had personally offended them, which, considering it was a homunculus, it might have. But still, that was no reason to be so negative. He sighed in frustration. Maybe Ed needed a little reminder...

"If it bothers you that much brother, why don't you just destroy the stone now?"

Ed looked up, an almost horrified expression on his face from hearing his gentle brother say something like that. He paused, then looked down at the stone sulkily.

"Because, Al... It's still living, even if it's not human. It still has thoughts and feelings, and it..." Edward trailed off, remembering one of the homunculi in particular. Envy, Ed mused, for all that he hid with his ruthless nature, showed that near-humanity most of all in his dying moments.

Alphonse smiled knowingly and nodded. "See? We're stuck with it, so stop complaining about it all the time. Try to look on the bright side."

Ed huffed sullenly, propping his chin up on his hand as he glowered at the stone.

"What bright side?"

"Well, the doctors said I'll be strong enough to head back to Risembool in a few weeks, so you can stop getting in everyone's way while waiting for me to recover. That's one."

Ed blinked, sitting up a little straighter.

"Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot to call Winry and Pinako..."

Al paused for a moment, letting Ed's words sink in. Then, an almost terrifying expression crossed his face.

"YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN CALLED TO TELL THEM THAT WE'RE ALIVE!? HOW HEARTLESS CAN YOU BE!?"

Before he knew it, Ed was standing in the main hall of the hospital, payphone in hand, listening to the ring of the phone on the other end.

'Please don't pick up, I should get back to the homunculus and Al. I don't want to hear any short jokes right now-'

Click.

'Damn...'

"Ed!" Pinako's voice echoed through the phone. "I haven't heard from you in a while! Is everything alright? I was almost beginning to wonder if you were crushed underfoot in the last month and a half."

Man, Ed missed Winry and Pinako, but he didn't miss them enough to put up with Pinako's snark. Ed's grip tightened ferociously on the phone, and if he had his automail, he would've fractured it.

"YEAH, WELL Y-" Ed forced himself to cut off mid-sentence, his eye twitching with the effort of holding back his rant. "...Nice try, granny, but I'm taller now." He gritted out through clenched teeth. "A-and that's not why I'm calling! I'm calling to-"

"Let me guess, it's about your father, isn't it?"

Ed almost choked on his words in surprise, receiver suddenly feeling slippery in his hands. "Wait, what do you mean? Is Hohenheim there? Can I speak to him?" If Hohenheim was there, maybe he could explain what the deal with the stone was about! And then Ed could hightail it to Risembool and kick his ass!

Pinako made a small noise that sounded like confusion, or possibly concern. "Ed... your father showed up shortly after the big mess that happened in Central, and, well... Hohenheim's dead, Edward."

Ed seemed to freeze in time, not even daring to breathe. When he snapped out of it, he was careful to keep an even tone.

"Oh. I see..."

"He died in front of your mother's grave with a smile on his face, so I don't think he was in any pain..."

"Did he have a message for Al and I? And is Winry there?"

Pinako's voice almost sounded distant to Ed's ears. "No, I don't think Hohenheim had anything with him but a briefcase and the old family portrait. The briefcase is yours, next time you're in Risembool. And Winry's out running errands right now. Would you like me to leave a message for her?"

Ed smiled slightly. "Just tell her Al and I are coming back soon. And we might have a guest joining us. We'll be there before you know it!"

"Ed?"

"Hm?"

"Pass the news on to your brother, will you?"

"Did you tell them we got our bodies back, brother?"

Ed groaned and slapped his forehead as he came back into Al's recovery room. "Shoot! I completely forgot! Aww..." He sighed and looked at Al, a smile brightening up his face. "Oh well. We'll just have to make it a surprise. Maybe Winry'll cry like she said she would!"

If Al could've reached, he would've slapped Ed on the arm for that comment. "Are you planning on making her cry!? You're horrible, brother!"

Ed laughed and wisely stepped further out of slapping reach. "Kidding, kidding!" His smile fell quickly as he remembered he still had to break the news to Al.

Shoving a strand of loose blond hair behind his ear, Ed sat down on the stool next to Alphonse's bed.

"Hey, Al?"

Al looked at him with an open, curious expression. "What is it, brother?"

Ed sighed internally. Sometimes he wished he could protect his brother forever. "Al... the reason I forgot to tell Winry and Pinako is because they had some bad news."

As soon as 'bad news' left Ed's mouth, Al was sitting up as straight as he could, fixing Ed with a concerned gaze.

"Shortly after the Promised Day, Hohenheim went back to Risembool. Pinako found him dead, in front of mom's grave." Ed made a small sound that sounded like a sad bark of a laugh. "The old bat said he died with a smile on his face, so I think it's what he wanted..."

Ed watched Al's face, noting how his younger brother's expression dimmed. Edward sighed and stood up, catching Al's attention as he stretched his arms over his head. As soon as his shoulder muscles felt less tight, Ed pointed a finger in Al's face.

"So there! I told you! He died happy! Don't cry over him, the old bastard got what he wanted! You shouldn't spend any more of your pity on him!"

Al blinked up at Ed, eyes wide as tears threatened to show themselves. He lowered his head, and Ed was afraid he had upset Alphonse even more. But when a small, timid laugh came from Al's shaking body, Ed blinked his golden eyes in surprise.

When Al lifted his head, there were tears running down his cheeks, but a smile on his face. He rubbed the heel of his palm over his eyes, and choked back a hiccup.

"Thanks, brother... even though dad wasn't around much, I guess I couldn't help but still think of him as, well, dad, you know?"

Edward hesitated a moment, before he smiled and patted Al's back.

"Yeah, I guess so, huh?"

They sat in silence for a few more minutes, Ed lost in thought and Al wiping away his tears, when an arc of red electricity flashed across their room, making both boys jump and snap their heads up. The stone in the jar was sparking violently, and Ed stood up quickly, racing to the jar to see what was happening.

As quickly as the lightning started, it stopped, and Ed was left staring into the jar at what looked to be... a finger bone? Ed wasn't sure. Carefully, he picked up the jar, carrying it over so Al could see from his bed.

"Al, what kind of bone does this look like to you?"

Alphonse peered into the jar Ed held out, squinting at the white protrusion from the stone.

"I don't know, Ed... it looks like it could be a rib, but it's shaped funny and it's too small. But it doesn't seem to be dissolving, so I think the stone is getting stronger. Maybe soon we can tell which homunculus it-eep!"

Ed jumped and Al almost threw himself further back on the bed as the stone sparked again, a bone roughly half the size of the last one extending from the stone to join the first. The Elric brothers sat in stunned silence for a moment, trying to process what the stone was doing.

When no other sparks followed, Ed sighed, visibly relaxing. "I guess it's hibernated long enough and wants attention. Hey, maybe it's Greed, if it's that determined to have all eyes on it." Ed set the jar back on his bedside table before looking at Alphonse questioningly.

"I think it's ready to try and recreate its body. What do you think we should do? Should we take it out of the jar, in case a homunculus explodes out of it?"

Al looked at the stone thoughtfully, tilting his head. "I think it'll be okay... It's taken this long to make two little bones. It's probably going to take a while to fully form. We can take it out of the jar later if we have to-" Just then, Al caught Ed's disturbed expression and saw the shiver that ran through his body. "Ed? What's wrong?"

"What if... we have to take it out when it has muscles and it's all icky? I don't want to know what muscles feel like! What if it moves!?"

"Brother, apparently you've been in the stomachs of two homunculi at once. This can't possibly be any worse."

"But that's different! This one won't have skin!"

Alphonse stared at Ed for a moment in exasperation, before grabbing one of the pillows from his bed and throwing it at his squeamish brother, hitting him square in the back of his head.

That night, Ed woke up sometime around three in the morning, according to the hotel alarm clock. Groaning, he rolled over and squeezed his eyes shut. It was too early to be up already, and the hospital recovery ward didn't allow visitors until six, so bugging Al was out of the question. Ed whined quietly, curling up to try and get some more sleep.

He had almost pulled the pillow over his head, when a shimmer of red light made him crack open an eyelid. Curious, Edward sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The jar was glowing softly, but stronger than before.

He reached over to pick up the glass and gently pulled it into his lap. The stone glowed, illuminating the slow-forming skeleton of a lizard-like creature.

Ed glared accusingly into the jar, tempted to throw it across the room.

"So it's you, huh, bastard? After that fit you threw in the tunnels, you've come back to bug me, haven't you, Envy?"

A few weeks had passed, and Envy's skeleton grew organs and flesh, until it appeared to be complete, or, well, as complete as Envy's tiny form could be. Ed, quite frankly, was just glad he didn't have to move the small lizard from his jar when he started growing organs. However, Edward had to wonder if Envy was secretly conscious while reforming, and specifically chose that day to finish growing.

Ed pulled his luggage down from the top rack on the train to Risembool for what felt like the hundredth time that day, opening his suitcase and checking to see if Envy woke up. Al could feel a vein pop on his forehead, watching his brother act so cautious with the reformed homunculus..

"Ed, Envy's not going anywhere. If you want to keep watching him, why don't you just pull the jar out instead of bothering the other passengers by moving that suitcase around?"

Ed sighed in resignation, clicking the suitcase shut and slumping down into the seat opposite Al. "Sorry, I'm just worried Envy's going to try and kill us the moment he wakes up..."

"Ed," Alphonse began, sitting up a bit more to try and get used to moving. "Envy's probably not going to wake up until he's ready. For all we know, he could still be forming some organs. Relax. Even if he does wake up, he's tiny and bottled up. He couldn't get to us anyway."

Ed bit his lower lip, knowing that Al was probably right. But still, he had a niggling feeling about today...

"Now arriving in Risembool Station! Please make sure all your belongings are secure, the train may come to a somewhat jarring stop."

Ed nearly jumped at the voice of the train attendant, feeling his dread only increase. He gripped the seat tighter as he lurched forward in his seat as the train pulled into the station. As if to make him even more restless, he heard his suitcase collide with the neighboring luggage in the top rack, and he winced.

The moment the train completely stopped, Ed was tearing his suitcase open to make sure Envy's jar hadn't cracked. He sighed, relieved that it was unscathed, although leaving Envy's body a bit rattled.

"ED! Envy's fine! Relax! Now come on, this is our stop." With that, Al slowly stood up with his cane, using the train's seat for support as well.

Edward winced at Al's impatient voice, closing the suitcase quickly. He could feel his ears burning with embarrassment at being so jumpy about the homunculus in tow. He quickly followed his younger brother off the train, making sure Al didn't trip or hurt himself.

Ed was almost relieved when they stepped off the train, the fresh air of his hometown feeling welcome after spending so much time in Central. It almost eased his anxiety about the creature they were bringing home. Almost.

He slowed his pace to walk beside Al as they left the train station and started up the path to the Rockbell house. Alphonse had regained his strength pretty well, and Ed was glad he could walk again. He kept an eye on his younger brother still, in case he tired out on the long walk to the house.

Alphonse managed to make it three-quarters of the way to the house before he had to signal Ed to stop for a minute. Al sat on the stone wall that bordered the path, panting a little with exertion.

"You okay?" Ed asked, walking over to stand next to him. Al looked up and smiled.

"I didn't imagine that my muscles would be this weak..." Al said, laughing a little. Ed frowned slightly, concerned for Al.

"Want a ride on my back?" Ed needed to make sure Al didn't overexert himself. He still had a bit more recovery to go, and if he hurt himself now, Ed would be furious with himself.

"Nah, I want to walk with my own two legs. I'll take it slow, so you go on ahead."

"No way! We left the house together. We have to go back together, too!"

Al beamed at his brother's stubbornness, slowly pressing on his cane to stand up. Ed moved forward, ready to help Al in case he needed it, but he straightened up fine on his own.

"Well then, lets go!"

Ed nodded. "Yeah."

They turned and walked back towards the house. They talked on the way up, about Ling, Mei, and the others from Xing, and about how Mei had taken a liking to Al. By the time Al asked about things between Ed and Winry, they were standing in front of the house.

As they walked up, Den lifted her head from where she lay on the porch, staring at Al in confusion.

"Den! It's me!" Al called, smiling as Den perked up and made a small "Whuf!" of realization. Before Ed could get in the way, Den launched herself off the deck, bowling Al over and covering him in sloppy dog kisses. Den barked excitedly, and Al started to laugh.

"Den! That tickles!" Al exclaimed as the border collie stuck her cold nose into his side.

Ed chuckled at Al, shaking his head at his slobber-covered brother. He looked up as the door to the house creaked open, and smiled as Winry came into sight. Al noticed too, and managed to shove Den off of him long enough to stand up and beam at her.

For a few moments, Winry stood almost frozen in time., hand still resting on the doorknob and eyes wide with disbelief. Then, her eyes began to water as she ran down the stairs, arms outstretched as she tackled both of the brothers in a flying hug. Ed vaguely registered his suitcase flying out of his hands as his childhood friend knocked them to the ground.

After a moment, Winry pulled back, tears flowing down her cheeks and lower lip quivering into a smile.

"Welcome home, idiots!"

Ed and Al smiled, genuinely happy.

"Yo!"

"Good to be home!"

A pair of feet shuffled next to the laughing trio, and Ed looked up to see a grinning Pinako, pipe in hand.

"Welcome back, boys! And just in time for dinner too. Winry, help them take their stuff to their room and then help me with dessert, will you?"

Winry stood up and brushed the dirt off her pants, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and helping Al up.

Ed sat up too, still smiling elatedly. He reached over to grab his suitcase, and when his hand met nothing but dirt, the dreadful feeling came back, wiping the smile from his face. Standing up, he looked around quickly, spotting his suitcase several feet away and grabbing it quickly, realizing that in the welcome Winry gave them, he had probably thrown it.

He followed Al and Winry into the house quickly, and as soon as he was in the room he was staying in, he almost tore open his suitcase, checking on the jar.

"Dinner will be ready soon, so come on downstairs when you're unpacked!" Winry called from the doorway before turning back to go downstairs. Al hobbled over from the room next door, concern crossing his features when he saw Ed throwing clothes out of the suitcase, trying to get to Envy.

"Is everything okay, brother?"

Ed finally peeled a shirt away from within the suitcase to reveal Envy's jar, and he sucked in a breath when he saw the crack in the glass. Carefully, he set the jar on the desk, making sure not to rattle Envy's tiny comatose body any more than it already had been, and turned to look at Al.

"I accidentally threw the suitcase when Winry tackled us. The jar cracked, but I think it'll be okay..."

Al came closer and looked at the crack that ran down the side, ending about an inch and a half from the bottom of the glass. "I think it'll be fine. Just don't let it get knocked around anymore, or we have to find a new jar. Now come on, dinner should be ready by now!"

Ed paused for a moment, hesitant to leave Envy alone in a cracked jar, but nevertheless, Edward stood up and followed Al downstairs, forgetting his ominous feeling at the sight of the meal spread out on the table.

"Dig in, boys!" Pinako said from the end of the table. "And tell Winry and I all about what's been going on for the past few months!"

As soon as they were seated, the Elric brothers told them the story of the Promised Day between huge bites of food, almost choking a few times in the process. They told them almost everything, from Father's plot, to how the military solved it, even up to the deaths of the homunculi and what the military would do to reestablish Amestrian government. They skimped over some of the more dangerous parts, however, knowing Winry would just worry even though the whole ordeal was over and done with.

They were just clearing the table and pulling out the desert plates when a loud crash and the sound of something shattering came from upstairs. All four heads instantly whipped up, and Ed gulped nervously.

His sinking feeling was back.

Slowly he pushed back his chair and stood up, walking towards the stairs.

"I'm going to go check that out. You guys stay down here." And with that, he ran up the stairs two at a time.

"Ohpleasedon'tbeEnvypleasedon'tbeEnvyplease-"

He skidded into his room, freezing in the doorway at the sight of the jar in pieces on the floor. Quickly, he kneeled next to the pieces of glass, looking for any sign of Envy's body among the mess, whether awake or comatose. He could only feel his dread get worse when he couldn't find him.

Ed stood up, scanning the room for any sign of the lizard scampering around. He looked under the bed and behind the dresser, even going so far as to look inside the dresser and nightstand. Edward could almost feel his heart stop. Envy wasn't in the room.

A shriek came from downstairs that sounded a lot like Winry, and Edward spun around to see Alphonse hobbling into the doorway, disheveled and out of breath.

Ed took one look at his brother's distressed face.

"Let me guess; Envy got out?"