It couldn't be true. It just…couldn't be.

Edward wasn't walking around the park, hand in hand with the love of his life. Father hadn't been defeated, the homunculi weren't gone…

Except it was true, Ed was holding Roy's hand, and Father and his creations were done for.

Edward was almost afraid to smile; the scene was so perfect, it felt as though even that tiny movement could fracture it.

"You know," Roy murmured conversationally, "this is our first real date."

Ed nodded, beaming. He couldn't bring himself to form words.

The man stopped for a moment, looking down at him. "You're not rethinking us, are you? Now that everything's…normal, you're not bored with me…?"

"No!" Edward couldn't stop himself from laughing. "No, not at all. Don't worry so much."

Smiling once again, Roy continued walking.

Ed went on. "It's just, I can't believe everything's real. After everything that happened, it's hard to accept that we can just go on, you know? But I'm so happy! Everyone's okay! Al's fine, he's got his body, and I've got you…"

The man with him faltered, his grin slipping infinitesimally. He slowed, pulling Edward's hand to bring him closer. "I just feel bad, you know?" he murmured. "Everyone's fine, you're right. I'm alright—better than alright, fantastic, since I've got you with me—and yeah, Al got his body back. I just feel like you really got slighted. Everyone's benefited in the long run…except maybe you."

Edward had been expecting this argument; Roy was having a harder time being happy they were alive, instead getting caught up on the path to this point. "But you're wrong." Ed tugged Roy's arm gently, pulling the man towards a park bench. They sat. "I've thought about this a lot, and…there's so many points at which I could have changed things. Losing my alchemy, the whorehouse, my face…all of it."

"That's my point," Roy whispered."

"But even though I could change it, I wouldn't."

The man snapped his head up, looking Ed in the eye. "You're insane."

Edward truly could not stop smiling. "No. I have to look at the consequences. Without me giving up my alchemy, Al wouldn't have a body…and that's not something I could accept. I've been chasing that for him for years, so my abilities were a small price to pay. Being sold…that's the hardest one to get over, even now. But if that hadn't happened, I don't think you would have fallen in love with me."

Edward paused to allow Roy to think that one through. Finally, the man nodded. "True. I never would have gotten close enough to you without that. But—"

"But nothing. If it means I get to keep you, then it was worth it."

Roy's eyes glimmered as he leaned down. Edward smiled into the kiss, only breaking away to make his final point. "And my face? Well, it could be worse. Besides, I think I like being able to turn a blind eye to the world…I can focus on being with you in a…special way."

Roy laughed. "That's a bit of a stretch. But I see your point."

"I'm just…ecstatic," Ed concluded.

"Me too."

Again, a kiss, this one longer. Edward actually did thank his partial blindness in that moment—he could hear people scurrying away from the strange couple on the bench, a burnt boy and a man in uniform, and had no desire to see it as well.

Finally Roy allowed him to break for air. "You know what the best part is?"

"What?" Ed asked, somewhat breathless.

"I have forever to look forward to now. I didn't want to scare you, but I was worried too—every time we kissed, I had to wonder if it would be the last time…and now I don't. You're all mine for as long as you want to be."

"That'd be forever, then."

Edward and Roy stared at each other, silent. Just smiling was enough. There aren't usually words enough to describe love, let alone a love that, so new, had already been through so much. They settled for watching each other.

The couple was quiet for a moment. Edward leaned into Roy's shoulder, just watching the leaves dance in the wind. It was so cheesy, wasn't it? But it was perfect.

"You know," he murmured finally. "There's one thing I don't understand."

"Hmm? What's that?" Roy had taken to playing with his hand.

"Why was Father so weak in the end?" Ed asked. "I mean, I know he'd made lots of homunculi, but…he was totally drained."

Surprisingly, Roy had an answer. "You know, I had wondered that too. But I think I figured it out; the last two homunculi, Hope and Love…those are really essential emotions. Even for someone like him…I think he was a bit like me, actually. I didn't know I could love until I got close to you—Father probably didn't know he had the emotions in him, and when he took them out…he didn't realize how important they were. If I lost all my hope and love, I'd be a wreck, too."

"Yeah, but they weren't really hope and love…Love was horrible, and Hope just made everyone hopeless. I don't think that counts as the actual emotion."

"Father twisted them," Roy murmured. "He wasn't capable of real love, real hope, no…so he took the emotions and made them dark. If they hadn't been trying to kill us, I'd actually feel pretty bad for Hope and Love…"

Ed nodded silently. It made sense; they were essential emotions, and they were fragile. Love could just as easily make a life as break it, and the same went for hope.

Again, he watched the park, comfortable with Roy beside him, the man's arm curled around his shoulders. It was really and truly over; they could just live now, together…if Edward didn't explode from happiness first.

"Ed, what we have is real, you know that?" Roy spoke softly, the words just barely audible. But Ed could feel the emotion behind them. "Father might have made his little counterfeit versions, but you are the most beautiful, hopeful person I've ever met. And…you just can't fake what we have."

Roy looked up to the sky, and Edward followed his gaze. That was it, this had to be a dream—because two nightingales could not be flying together in an otherwise empty sky. "Edward Elric, you mean the world to me… you can't fake a love like ours."

The End. :)

Honestly, this is really emotional for me. I've been working on this for a while, since the beginning of Sold, and to see the series wrap up...it's a great feeling, but also sad, because, I mean, it's over.

This is far from my best piece, but I like it overall...especially the ending.

Just because I'm weird like this, I have to explain the titles... Sold was obvious, but I wanted to keep in the monetary theme, so I went with Bartered (because of the deal at the end), and then Counterfeited...hopefully this last chapter makes it clear why I called this one by that name.

Anyway, yes, it's over. But I'm never done writing! So do me a couple favors, please? One, let me know what you thought of this. Two, I have a poll going on (and you can see the link to vote at the very top of my profile, even before my name). It's about a story idea, and I'd appreciate you voting (though of course it is by no means the only thing I have coming up). Last, do check back for more stories. You guys are great, and your reviews just inspire me in ways you wouldn't believe; honestly, it would be an honor for you all to keep reading me.

That's all the touchy feely now haha. In short...hope you enjoyed :)