Chapter Text
Edward remembers finding the letter like it was yesterday he was going threw his mother's belonging to find stuff him and Al should keep such as baby pictures birth certificates and stuff like that when going threw this mother's bedside table he found two letters both addressed to him. The first one had his mother's writing saying 'for Edward only' when he opened it it said:
To my dear Edward,
I'm sorry you have to read this I was hoping you would never need to find out this way but it's best you know. If you are reading this it means I am dead and I'm not coming back, please don't blame yourself there was nothing you or your brother could do. If you see your father please don't be too cruel I understand that you have every right to hate him but please try and not hit him too hard.
I know your a smart boy Edward and I know it won't take you long to remember what you asked me one day when you were only three years old back then I told you that you took after your grandfather I'm sorry to tell you that's a lie. When you were two years old we adopted you, when you learned you could dye your hair with alcamey you didn't hesitate to due it to match Al I loved your raven black hair but you wanted to look like your father and brother. I don't know who your biological parents are they left a letter with any health problems you could be prone too and that your name is Edward.
I don't care that I wasn’t the woman who gave birth to you, you are my son and I love you with all my heart please remember that. The other letter addressed to you is from your biological parents they asked it be given to you when you turn eighteen but I wouldn't blame you if you opened it. I hope one day you can find them and get answers on why they gave you up for adoption, just know I'm proud of the boy you are and the man you will become
All my love mom
Edward didn't know what to think he was adopted? He had always wondered why his eyes were slanted but he just thought it was a genetic trait that skipped a few generations. He stared at the unopened letter that held the answers to some of his questions but he still had a few about the letter like did they write their names? How old are they? Does he have aunts and uncles he never met? Does he have siblings? Where are they from? What do they work as? All these questions were circling around his head and he could get answers in less then a minute if he opened the letter,but he just lost one parent after being abandoned by the other also he couldn't do that to Al. He can't just leave with the idea of chasing after parents that gave him away he didn't care about thir reasons they gave him up they made that choice and now they had to live with it they are ten years too late if they wanted him they would have kept him.
Edward walked back too granny's house with both letters in his pocket, he decided to keep the one from his biological parents as a reminder of how much his mother wanted him. When he gets back Al asked what they are keeping and he shows his brother everything but the letters Al doesn't need to know plus they were written just for him. He tells granny about the letter from mom but not his biological parents she doesn't seem surprised with the news but also seems to know he's hiding something but she doesn't push. The next morning they burn down the house and head off for the state Alcamist exam.
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Edward has been a state Alcamist for two years now, he's earned the name the people's Alcamist and he's getting closer to getting Al his body back. He works hard to protect the people of Amestris he rereads the letter from his mom every time he's in the hospital, which is where he is now after getting stabbed while helping chase down a serial killer. The door opens and in walks the Cournel he looks at Ed with a slight look of surprise the nurse must have told him he would be asleep.
"Full metal are you aware you are ment to be resting? Although I do hope that is your report you are writing." He said teasingly, the cournel did that a lot teased him for his height and his writing abilities specifically when his reports were involved." No basterd its a letter from my mother that she left me before she died." He responded slightly annoyed his reading got put on hold until he was alone again despite having the letter memorised. "Oh I see apologies Full metal did you only receive it recently? The Cournel apologised clearly not expecting that response and he asked his question honestly curious for the answer probably to make sure his work ethics won't be affected by the letter." It’s fine how could you have known what it was, and to answer your question no I've had it since before I went for the exam. You can read it if you want I've got it memorised at this point." He said not knowing why he's offering to let the man read his letter not even Al has read the letter.
The Cournel took the letter and started quietly reading it to himself Ed could tell when he got to the part about his hair because the man looked at his hair in confusion for a brief second but quick went back to the letter, when he finished reading the letter he handed it back to Ed like it was going to shatter if he dropped it." Your mother sounds like she was a wonderful woman from that letter, although I didn't realise you had black hair." The man said awkwardly like he didn't know what to say after reading the letter." Yeah she was, I think she would have ether liked you or punch you on sight for getting me to join the military." He responded jokingly to try and help the man relax he seemed very tense after reading the letter.
The two men talked for a while mostly about the case but a few times the topic went back to his mother he even sharedsome childhood stories about Al specifically one's that would embarrass the younger boy if he was there, the two men shared a laugh at the mention of his brothers swearing habit. When one of the nurses looking after him came into the room the Cournel left to go write up his report on the case and told Ed not to worry about his which was oddly nice of him. An hour after the nurse left Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye walked into the room.
"Hey Lieutenant If your looking for the basterd he left a little over an hour ago." He told her jokingly he knew she wasn’t looking for the Cournel everyone would be gone home by now. She let a small smile grace her face and sat on the chair the Cournel had used when he was here." Well I would hope so since he wrote two reports on the events of this evening. How are you feeling Ed?" She asked him her eyes looking him up and down as if looking for a new injury to appear from its hiding place her eyes landed on the letter by his side a look of curiosity in her eyes. "I'm fine just a few stitches I sent Al back to the dorm earlier he wasn't long gone before the Cournel showed up. If your wondering about the letter you can read it the Cournel already did so I don't see why you shouldn't." He responded politely, he really didn't mind if she read the letter since the Cournel hadn't said anything about the other letter being mentioned he didn't mind if she did bring it up he doesn't hide it. She took the letter gently and started reading stopping at the same place the Cournel did and doing exactly what he did Ed had to swallow a laugh at their similarities if he didn't know any better he would think they were married or something with how close and a like they are. When she finished reading she folded the letter and handed it back, the first thing she said afterwards was "have you read the other letter yet?"
Ed knew the question was coming so he answered honestly with no hesitation." No,not yet I might read it when I'm older ir when I get Al's body back but I don't know, I might just not read it at all." He didn't give his reasoning for not reading the letter to save her the annoyance of him crying over if his biological parents wanted him or not and if they did why give him away." Well its your letter but if I was you I would have read it already, just for answers I'm sure you have questions you want to ask them and that letter could help you get them. Maybe you should think about it even if it's just for answers." She said with a far off look on her face Ed didn't know what could trigger that on Hawkeye of all people so he quickly changed the topic by asking about the others, she quickly snapped out of what ever caused her far off look and told him about how the office was after the case how they all jumped the Cournel for an update of him and how he didn't mention the letter.
When Hawkeye was leaving he asked her to hand him up his suitcase she did and once she closed the door he opened the case and grabbed the other letter." Well here goes nothing." He muttered to himself as he opened and read the letter.
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What. the. fuck.....