A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and followed! This is the last part of the fic, and I hope you all enjoyed! (Deeply sorry for the angst ;-;)

The funeral was packed. Roy would be lying to say he expected it. Sure, his team was there along with Al, but there must've been at least a hundred people he'd never seen before in his life. Turns out the kid had affected more lives than Roy thought.

He deserved the crowd, in fact, he deserved all of Amestris to be there.

Some guests lingered in the background, giving their respect in silence, while others stood up front, the majority in military garb. Maes couldn't make it. His injury was still too severe, and the hospital refused to let him leave even for this. It wasn't fair that the man who had been with Ed in his last moments wouldn't even be able to attend his service.

It was a full military funeral, and Roy scoffed at the thought. The kid hated the military, and sending him off as a soldier was just too cruel. He never should have been in the military in the first place, and as Roy watched Alphonse help carry the casket, an Amestrian flag on top, he was revolted to his core.

He could still feel the effects of the nasty hangover he'd had a couple days back, which did nothing to help the discomfort inside of him. Once he'd realized how he had spoken to Al, how insensitive he had been to present himself wasted to the boy who had just lost his brother, Roy was more than disgusted with himself. Could he do anything without failing others?

Roy watched as the casket was placed in the neat hole that had been dug into the ground. They had travelled to Resembool for the occasion, because there was no possible way Al would've let Ed be separated from his mother. After everything they had done to try to see her again, it was only fair that he'd get to lie next to her in death.

That's what bothered Roy the most. Everything had happened just because two boys wanted to see their mother again. They thought they had the power, so they did what they could. Hell, if Roy didn't already know the effects of human transmutation, he'd be thinking about doing it this very second. It'd be a mockery, he knew, but the opportunity was there, and Ed shouldn't have had to die so young.

He knew he could try, but he wouldn't. He wouldn't destroy more lives just for the slim chance to bring one back. Roy couldn't even imagine how Al must've been feeling, and he wouldn't dare do that to him.

Roy focused on the service again, tearing his thoughts from the dark path they were spiraling down. The sky was overcast, shadowing the sun and everyone beneath it. It was almost fitting, with how Ed had been like a ray of light in the lives that needed it.

Roy flinched at the gunshots that rang across the hill. Though it was customary, firing the very thing that had killed Fullmetal only served as a bitter reminder.

Winry Rockbell stood to his right, letting tears fall silently as she clutched something in her hand. Had she gotten a letter too? She must've, with how close she had been to the brothers. After already losing her parents, losing Ed too must've been more agonizing for her than almost anyone else.

Gracia and Elicia were to his left, but he didn't dare focus his attention on them. Elicia, as young as she was, had never experienced death. She was confused, Roy knew, and Gracia held her close in an attempt to cease her babbles.

"Mommy, why are they putting all that dirt on little big brother?" Her voice wasn't sad, only curious. Her words silenced the rest of the crowd, and suddenly she was center of attention.

"They're burying him, dear," Gracia replied, voice quivering. Roy couldn't fathom the pain she must've been feeling, the pain of losing someone that had been like another child to her.

Elicia's cries were like a pierce to the heart, and Roy glimpsed Riza covering her eyes with her hand. "But he said he needed to help big little brother! He can't help if they bury him!" Gracia lifted her daughter to her chest, yet she continued to yell. "Stop it! Stop burying little big brother!"

If it were possible for a suit of armor to shrink in on itself, that's exactly what Alphonse did. He stood near the casket and bowed his head, soul straining against itself in an attempt to cry.

Roy let his hat shade his eyes and ignored the suffocating pressure of everyone mourning around him. How many of these people even knew Ed's story? How many would know about his lifelong dedication to his brother, or his determined outlook on fixing everything wrong with the world?

How many would know how much of an annoying brat Fullmetal was when his height was insulted? Or his ability to destroy everything in his path without a bit of remorse? Did anyone know how stubborn to a fault he was? How his moral system was so strong that he wouldn't dare kill, despite how much they deserved it?

These people could never know Edward Elric, not like he did. From the day Roy met the boy with fire in his eyes, who was determined to help his brother no matter what, he saw a spark he hadn't seen in anyone else. He saw someone who was strong enough to face the world and everything it had to throw against him.

He didn't see the kid who had been taken down by a single bullet. Despite everything, that's all he'd be known for now.

Roy watched as the final shovel of dirt was placed, evening out the ground. He watched as the headstone was placed nearby, directly next to the one titled "Trisha Elric."

He waited for the guests to clear out, and stood behind as Riza gripped his hand in hers.

Most didn't take long in paying their respects; some only left flowers. It was nearing sunset by the time Roy and Riza were alone. Al was still there, sitting without a word. He couldn't sleep, and was probably waiting for nightfall so he could spend it alone with his brother.

Roy walked up by himself. He didn't know what he was going to say, but he needed the time alone.

"Hey, Fullmetal." He muttered, staring down at the gravestone. "Promoted two whole ranks, huh? Looks like you finally beat my record for the youngest person to reach Colonel."

The wind began to blow, causing Roy's neatly gelled hair to fall in front of his eyes. "You could just never stay out of trouble, could you?" He sighed, crouching to his knees so he'd be eye level with the stone. "I'm going to do what you asked me, I promise. I'll watch over Alphonse the best that I can, so you don't need to worry. I'll admit, I know next to nothing about how to do this, but I won't fail again. I won't fail like I did with you. I'll protect him and make sure the same thing doesn't happen, even if it kills me."

He stood up as Riza neared from behind, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Roy looked back at the gravestone. Fifteen years, that's all he got. Just like the lives Roy had ripped away from others with his flames, he was gone too soon.

"We really are horrible creatures, aren't we? Alchemists, military, all of us. We're responsible for so much death; so much destruction. Fullmetal never wanted to use those things against others. He was the only one among us with good intentions, and yet he still had to die."

"Are you all right?" Riza asked, already knowing the answer.

"Fine," Roy replied, placing his hat back on his head. "Except, it's a terrible day for rain."

"What do you mean? It's not raining…" Riza trailed off when she noticed the tear sliding down his cheek.

Just like on rainy days, Roy was useless. Completely and utterly useless. He couldn't save those in Ishval, and he couldn't save Fullmetal.

"Yes, it is."

Riza understood, finally, and gripped his shoulder tighter. She must've felt responsible, too.

"We should head back. It's getting cold."

Roy continued to stare at the letter on his desk. It haunted him; Ed's last words hidden and concealed inside nothing but an envelope.

Frankly, he hadn't even remembered receiving it. After waking up on the floor of his office with a pounding head, it had been more than shocking to see a letter addressed to him in Fullmetal's handwriting. The reason it had been made was what had been plaguing Roy for days.

The boy had wanted, no, felt the need to write a will, along with letters addressed to all those that were closest to him. The fact that someone so young had been thinking he was going to die, and prepared for it, was the most heartbreaking factor of it all.

Al had informed him that the documents were alchemically sealed in Ed's suitcase, no doubt saved for after his death. Sure, it was mandatory to make a will after enlisting in the military, but Ed had gone above and beyond that regulation just so he'd be prepared for the inevitable. Had he really been thinking he wouldn't be able to live a full life? Did he think he'd fail all along, or give himself up in order to save Al?

Roy had no clue what went on in Ed's head, but whatever it was must've been torturing him for years. He could already predict what had been written in the other letters. For Winry, an unspoken declaration of love and appreciation. For Alphonse, a million apologies crammed into one. For as little as Roy truly knew about Ed, and the person he used to be, his actions towards those closest to him were foreseeable.

As for his own letter, Roy had no clue. If he had known what Fullmetal had been doing, he wouldn't have expected one at all. He knew the boy loathed him, hated him, most likely. He knew Ed trusted him though, at least enough to ask that he take care of Al. For as many times as they teased each other, Roy could see the respect hidden in his eyes. It was small, and he knew the kid still disliked him, but it was enough for him to know that he wasn't doing everything wrong.

Ever since the funeral his office was quiet. He expected his door to be kicked down any day now, and for Fullmetal to scream his head off as Roy told him off about ruining public property. That had been so normal that now an ordinary work day just felt wrong.

There were other changes, too. Alphonse was living with him now, because there was no way Roy would have left him alone. He'd taken over Ed's research and used his military position to his advantage, still giving Al the materials he needed to get back to normal.

The goal didn't feel as hopeful as it had before, though. Roy could see Al losing faith, not even caring about his own fate. His body wasn't worth Ed's life, yet he still kept trying because he knew Ed wouldn't have wanted him to give up. Roy admired the strength Al had to keep moving on, and he was determined to help him in any way he could. The only condition was that Al was forbidden from enlisting in the military. He was still one of the greatest minds alchemy had, but Roy would do anything to prevent Al from getting hurt too. He'd use every mistake he'd made over the past four years to assure that he wouldn't make them again.

Riza helped him too, and Roy was more than thankful. She was much better with kids than he was, and Al almost looked up to her like a mother. They all worked to tone down the grief, and somehow, they had kept moving forward.

Time passed, and on a quiet spring day Roy finally mustered up the nerve to look at the letter again.

The envelope was bent, like it had been closed and opened over and over. It looked as if it had been crushed, yet Roy held onto it like a fragile artifact. Whatever was inside must've been important, and he couldn't deny Ed's words any longer. He had to know.

Roy carefully peeled away the flap, and was surprised to see that the papers inside had been neatly folded instead of shoved inside. They were crinkled and worn, but the words written were still legible. Roy noticed from first glance that the second half contrasted the first. The handwriting was more rushed and desperate, and if he squinted it almost looked like the ink had ran in places.

He looked away and held his breath. Whatever was inside, that would be what Fullmetal had truly thought about him. Would he blame him and resent him for not doing enough? Would he curse Roy out for having him join the military in the first place? Roy would understand if he did. He deserved anything Ed would have to tell him, and that would be that.

Roy shut his eyes tightly and opened them again. As much as it still hurt to have lost the boy he had begun to care about like family, he knew he had to read it. Even if Ed didn't feel the same, at least he'd know.

Roy unfolded the papers again and read from the beginning. And then he read it again. And again. He wasn't even aware of the tear droplets smearing the ink. He just continued to read.

Roy read, and for the first time in weeks, he smiled.

Mustang,

I thought a lot about if I would write this letter or not. For one, you're an asshole. More than that, though, I'm just not really sure about what to say. It's easy with Al and Winry, they know me enough that I barely have to write anything and they'll get the message. For you… there's a lot I haven't said. Hopefully you won't even need to read this letter in the first place, but just in case I won't be able to say this to your face, I thought it'd be important.

I know how to get Al's body back. I have for a long time, actually. Pretty crazy, right? Doing it would kill me, but who knows? Maybe I managed it and that's why you're reading this in the first place. If I didn't, then you're the next in line. As much as I hate to say it, with as much of a bastard as you are, you're the only one I can trust to bring him back. I see the way he talks to you, and I'm not an idiot. He looks up to you, and as much as I hate to say it, I do too. (I really hope you won't have to read this).

When you offered me a job in the military, I finally had a reason to keep going. You saved my life that day, whether you know it or not. Sure, you were a dick, but finally I had hope and a purpose. Al did too, and I know he was glad to have somebody other than me to care for him. We've relied on each other for years, but sometimes it just got to be too much, you know? We didn't have any parents, or anyone for the matter. Nobody except each other. If I'm telling the truth, I didn't trust you a bit in the beginning. I thought you would take him away or send me to another commanding officer the moment I screwed up. Over time, though, you actually seemed to care about us. It's weird, because suddenly the asshole with a god-complex was checking to see if we were okay. I can't thank you enough for that. For once, I didn't have to be the strong one. I had somebody there for me, and just knowing that someone out there cares about me is enough to keep me moving forward. Even if I never admit it out loud, because I'd probably rather stick my head in a pot of hot oil, you've helped us more than you can imagine.

If you're reading this it means I died. I failed. I broke my promise to my little brother and everything I've worked for this far has been for nothing. That's why I need you. I need you to watch over him and protect him. Give him the father he's never had. He'll be lost without me, Mustang, I know it. He'll want to give up and he won't care about himself any more. Whatever you do, DON'T LET HIM. Okay? Do whatever it takes. Make him happy, do normal family shit that I know nothing about, do something. Get him his body back since I never could, and give him the life he deserves. That's all I've ever cared about anyway. If I die knowing that you'll be there to give him his happiness back, it'll all have been worth it.

I trust you, I trust Hawkeye, and Hughes, and the rest of the team. I know all of you won't let him be alone. I'm sorry for screwing up, I really am. I'm sorry I couldn't have done more, or have been brave enough to tell you all of this in person. I'm sorry for the guilt you'll probably feel. It's not your damn fault, it's nobody's but my own. Just take care of my little brother. Please. I know you'll do well, because you've already given us more than we could ever have hoped for.

Thanks for everything, bastard.

- Ed