The Christmas Gift

Tell me again why we're celebrating a holiday from a long-dead religion," Ed grumbled as he sat on the couch. Roy seemed to have heard of this "Christmas" and had decided to research it. Ed had found the older alchemist's interest in the holiday surprising, since he was atheistic. In his research, Roy had discovered that, despite it being a religious holiday, there were non-religious ways to celebrate it, as well.

"Because I wanted to do something special. Now, open your present," Roy said with a faint smile.

Over the past three years, the two alchemists had grown closer. In the beginning, they'd just watched each other at a distance and gradually realized how they really felt about each other, though they still covered their feelings when they were at work. Roy had been present when Ed managed to restore Al's body, and he'd been a little disappointed along with him when Ed still had the automail. However, in the end, Ed had been mainly focused on restoring his brother's body.

Now, he'd been called to Roy's house for a reason not revealed to him until he'd arrived. Sighing, he looked up at Roy, who had this expectant look on his face. Sighing again, he reluctantly pulled on one end of the bow to untie it and lifted the lid off the box to find a small bottle of lube resting on top of some tissue paper. Snorting, he picked it up, a glare in his eyes.

"What the hell's this?" he growled.

"That's called 'lube', Fullmetal. You know, it's the stuff I use on you when we..." Roy began with a smirk, stopping only when Ed cut him off, his face turning bright red.

"I know that, you bastard! I walked all the way here, freezing my ass off just so you can wrap up a bottle..."

Ed was cut off mid-rant by Roy leaning in to briefly kiss him before pulling away, his smirk having turned into a smile.

"That's not the gift. Unwrap the tissue paper," he said, his tone faintly amused.

Looking confused, Ed glanced up at Roy, who nodded for him to go ahead. Hesitantly, Ed started on the tissue paper, half expecting some kind of sex toy. What he hadn't expected was to find a rectangular jewelry box.

"In case you've forgotten, I'm not a damn girl, Mustang," Ed grumbled just before Roy reached over and lifted the top on the box, revealing a pendant on a gold chain. The stone on the pendant was an oddly shaped red stone. As he looked at it curiously, perhaps not knowing whether to throw himself on Roy in happiness or get pissed and beat him into the couch, Roy's smile only grew.

"There's some symbolism there, Ed. Think about it for a minute," Roy said.

"Well, the stone does look like a...Philosopher's Stone," Ed murmured, his eyes widening slightly as it hit him, and Roy nodded.

"That's it. You spent many years looking for the Philosopher's Stone. That had been your goal for a long time. I was looking for something that symbolized you and would be meaningful for you," he explained.

After listening to Roy's explanation, a small smile crossed Ed's face as he looked over at his lover.

"Thank you. It does mean a lot to me," he said, then frowned softly.

"But I didn't get you anything."

"That's okay, Ed. You didn't know what I wanted when I called you here," Roy said, his smile growing when Ed leaned against him. Unlike the women he'd had as his previous lovers, Ed's affection was more subtle. The young man seemed to be content enough just to be close, and, even though he could be easily coaxed into bed with him, sex was usually the furthest thing from his mind.

Feeling Ed's head move as the younger man looked up at him, Roy looked down into those golden eyes he could easily lose himself in just before Ed leaned up to softly kiss him.

"I love you, Roy," Ed murmured.

"Love you, too. Merry Christmas, Ed," Roy murmured, softly resting his chin on top of the younger alchemist's head, happy that Ed liked his gift.

"Merry Christmas, Roy. Next year, I'll get you something, too."

At hearing that, Roy just smiled.

"I'm looking forward to it."

End

A/N: I know this is late, but I still wanted to post it. I'll get around to updating "An Unlikely Couple" soon. I'd been meaning to update it, but I was going through a rough time, mentally(I don't know what happened), and lost any inspiration I had to work on it, but I will continue it. In the meantime, I'm posting this fluffy fic and I'll be writing a few(or maybe just one) more short fics(possibly one for Code Geass, since I just got into that show)in the hopes of getting back into things. ^^;