Chapter 14

Chapter 14

(THEO)
We came to a village, not far from there, Kain gasping for every breath. I couldn't let myself hate him anymore. He'd at least tried, and risked his life for my sister's. Sarah stayed by his side the whole time, running her hands through his snow-colored hair. She was crying softly, and mumbling to him, but he was in so much pain, I doubt he understood anything.
The Ishvalan apothecary took care of him well, and informed Alphonse and I on his state.
"He'll live, but he'll always have that scar on his face. I can't say it's too atractive, but it's better than the alternative."
Alphonse nodded, thanked him, and handed him some money. He tried to refuse, but gave in, knowing he could use it.
"...Uncle?" I asked.
"Yes, Theo?"
I looked up into my Uncle's brown eyes, and couldn't help but smile. Alphonse had always been a favorite. He spoiled us, bringing us treats from Xing and Ishval and wherever he'd been traveling. I knew he must miss Auntie May, but what about his own brother, who hadn't even come for him?
"Where is Aunty May?" I asked.
He pursed his lips. "May..." his smile widened. I knew May was his favorite person in the world, next to his brother. They were four years apart, but that was the only difference in the two. They were inseperable. I wondered how hard this had been on her, not to mention him. "I assume Xing." He then frowned. "I hope Ling didn't decide to touch her while I was gone..." he grumbled. I too grimaced. That would suck, after being locked up for how many months, he'd come home to his girlfrind pregnant with the Emperor of Xing. Not that either of them had any say in the matter.
"When I get home, I don't care what anyone says," his high voice was fierce, and sounded like he was talking to himself rather than me,"I'm gonna marry May. Screw Ling and screw Xing."
"Uncle!"
He looked at me, a huge smile in place. "You've learned haven't you Theo, that once you may lose everything, only to find you didn't have everything in the first place?"
He pointed over to Maes at Clint's cot, brushing the hair out of his eyes. He'd gotten food and water, and was already looking better. Maes met my gaze, and smiled at me. I almost forgot how the breath, and laughed as I waved back. Her cheeks took on a rose tinge, and bite her lips to hide a smile, looking back to her brother.
"Mustang's daughter," he said, elbowing me. "Nice."
I blushed deeply. "She's just...the most amazing girl I've ever seen...She isn't like anyone else. She's so...perfect..." I sighed.
Alphonse scratched the back of his head, his expression awkward and unsure.
"I missed your whole childhood, leave for me to show up when you're in puberty."
It was my turn to look awkward.
"...Well, it took me a long time to admit that I liked May, to myself, and even longer to her. But I don't regret it. You just do whatever she says, Theo, and I guaruntee you'll both be the happiest people on the planet."
I smiled, looking at her pool of ink hair spilling wildly down her back. She was beautiful. Her face was smudged with dirt, part of her shoe was gone, and there was a gash on her cheek. So beautiful.
She walked over to me, and I smiled at her.
"Well," Alphonse sighed, standing. "I knew a few boys from when Ed and I were..."
I nodded at him. He nodded back.
"I'll go check up on them. See how they are...if they are still alive..."
Al left, and Maes took his seat on the crate next to me.
"I'm so tired..." she said, her head finding refuge on my lap. I stuck my hands in her hair.
"Just think..." I mumbled,"soon, we'll be in Resembool. And you'll see your parents again. You can go home-"
She sat up bolt right, staring into my eyes.
"No!" she screamed. "I don't want to be away from you!" she screamed, pushing her head into my chest, sobbing madly. "Ever again! Please don't leave me! Please don't...don't ever...."
She was tired, and fell asleep there. I got up to the tent where Sarah was still with Kain. A sheet was in my way, but I stopped. She was talking--no, praying.
"Ish...Ishvala...I don't know if you're real, or if you'd even listen to me. But Kain...he believes so strongly in you...I humbly come before you...er...yeah..." I could see her in my head, bowed over Kain, her little body trembling sadly. I knew she was in love with him, because he was in love with her. "Just...save him please...he's been so brave and sweet...and he's so alone...Just let me protect him. I'll feel alone if he goes. I can't..." her voice shook,"Don't make me go with out him! Save him, please, just save him...I don't deserve him, but-"
I heard a noise, skin slapping skin. I peeked around the curtain. Kain had his hand on Sarah's wrist, but not meancingly by any means. They were staring each other in the eye. Sarah's cheeks were rivers, dripping down Kain's tattooed arm. His face was covered in bandages.
"Thank you, Sarah..." he said.
He started speaking again, but I left, not wanting to interupt what ever was happening. Sarah deserved her moment, after all she had done for this, for him. For Al.
***
Coming home to Resembool might've been the hardest thing ever. Pulling up in the jeep we stole, we all got out.
"That car..." Maes said, pointing. "That's father's government car..." she said. Her head darted toward the porch, and she started at a sprint, Clint on her heels.
"Mama-!" We came in, and all we saw was a barrel of a pistol in our face from across the room. But I recognized the figure, and the blonde hair wrapped in the elegant way. Riza Mustang, the Madame Fuhrer. She shakily lowered the gun, and I hardly noticed Roy and my father in the back.
Riza yelped, and ran forward, but stopped, her face contorting to confusion, then falling void of all emotion. I knew what she was doing as her eyes darted over all of us, taking a head count. We were short one. She took one more look at Maes and Clint, then stumbled forward, taking them both into her arms. Roy never moved from his spot against the back wall, hands folded behind his back, no expession.
My father's eyes darted off Sarah and I, to Al, then to Kain.
His eyes widened.
"You..." he said. "You look just like-"
Al nodded, as if to cut him off.
"Hey, dad," I hissed. "Remember me? First born son? Theo Elric? Ringing any bells?"
He glared at me. "Son."

So this was how this was going to be.
"Father, Theo didn't mean it!" Sarah screamed, lurching forward. "He was just saying it so you would take your attention off so we could save Alphonse-"
"Ed, who is-"
Mom turned the corner, and stopped. She dropped the plate she was drying.
"Winry, what's-"
May too, came around the corner, and stopped dead. Her dark eyes went wide, focusing on the man behind me. He swallowed, and smiled shyly.
"Hi, May. I-"
"Alphonse!!" May lunged across the room, landing into his arms. Al was knocked back on the floor, with May's little frame on top of him. Her lips were attacking every part of his face, and he smiled, turning her head to take her into a kiss that was way too long and passionate for my stomach.
"Hey, my house! Stop it!" Dad growled, punching the table. Al laughed, but May shot him a glare, only to return her loving, tear-filled gaze to Alphonse. They sat up, and he pulled her tight.
"Edward," he said. I barely heard through Mom squishing Sarah and I tightly together,"you have some brave kids here. They saved me, even risked there lives for me."
Roy looked down, as did Riza.
"No," I said stepping forward out of Mom's arms. "In the beginning, that's what it was about. But as we got toward it, we found there was more going on. Fuhrer King Mustang...Mrs. Mustang, Travis didn't..." I groaned, feeling sick, but strong. "Travis didn't die for Al. That's not how equilvilent exchange works. Travis died to save so many lives. To save not only Alphonse, but Maes and Clint...Sarah's...and that whole country, that you, Roy Mustang, set out to rebuild."
"Sir," Sarah said,"I know you wanted him to follow in your footsteps, and focus on politics and studies, and you thought he was a huge goof off. But sir, if you had seen him in those last...those last moments..." Sarah was crying, Kain's hands supporting her shakey shoulders. "You would've seen what a hero he died as. He...he was the bravest man I ever met. And I'm proud that he loved me."

The room took this in a silence. We calmed down, and Mom told us her chicken was burning.
Needless to say, we had burnt chicken that night, all of us.
Sitting with Maes by the fire, not having to worry about our next meal, not worrying about anyone killing us, it was amazing. Her face was buried in my neck, her lips occasionally brushing me, and I smiled, our hands intertwined, arms around each other's waist.
"Theo Elric," I heard a bass voice behind me rumble, causing every fibre of my being to shake,"would you mind telling me why you arms are around my daughter?"


A/N: Wow. One chapter left after this...One Chapter Moooorrrrreee--no.
I'm sorry, not to toot my own horn, but I love that last line. Because I could see Mustang being so pissed that Ed's son is dating his daughter...that is until he see's Ed is mad, then he's gonna milk TheoxMaes for all it's worth.
Alright, that reminds me of a joke. Please don't think I'm ranting.
Demy and I were having a convo one night, and I had this realization that shipping TheoxMaes is like like shipping RoyEd...ehhh...and so we had all these ideas like WinAi and WinScar and just...it was weird.
After this is the epilogue, and then Demy and I have written a series of one-shots which will be posted here. They mainly focus on Theo and Sarah growing up...well, no spoliers for the end. XD Thanks again.
Anyway, guys, please review! And thanks so much to soul alchemist 15 and lerias for commenting like the amazing readers they are. We love all of you guys so much! Thanks tons for all of the love and support.

And we havn't gotten any feed back from anyone about whether you want the Emma and Scout or Meg and Demy story! Geesh, guys! I kid, I kid.
Anyway, please review!