Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ Fates Entwined ( Chapter 3 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

 

Chapter 3: Fates Entwined

 

“So you're telling me I can't get my watch back without taking that stupid test all over again!” Edward yelled at the officer who should have been his superior. “This is crazy. I've got to get back on the path of that stone. Colonel you know that! Can't you do anything?”

 

Sighing heavily, Roy was beginning to wish he hadn't told Alphonse where to find his brother. When he'd sent the younger Elric to Brook Haven he thought it was some sort of mistake. Obviously it hadn't been. “I'm sorry Ed there's nothing I can do. You'll just have to start over.”

 

Scowling the alchemist turned on his heals and headed for the door. “Fine put me on the list and I'll pass it. Come on Al.” He didn't wait for the officer behind the desk to say anything more. He had things that he had to do. For one, he'd have to find a place to stay here in Central.

 

“Brother, where are we going now?” Alphonse knew his sibling had no idea where to head so without allowing him to answer he continued, “We can go back to my apartment. I got one after you… disappeared. Since I couldn't stay in the dorm rooms anymore.” When the blond in front of him stopped he paused.

 

Glancing back over his shoulder revealed the complexity of emotions in his eyes. `Maybe I should call her…' But he didn't know why he thought that. He didn't even know her name. What was wrong with him? “Okay Al, lead the way.” Ushering the armor in front of him Ed felt out of place. Things had changed, though he wasn't sure how much.

 

 

“We can order takeout brother.” The younger sibling offered. He didn't need to eat and therefore had no groceries. Well, except for cat food for his two kittens. There was a gallon of milk, which of course the elder detested. Other than that the small kitchen was bare.

 

“No thanks Al.” Edward was sitting on the blue couch, holding a book of alchemy which he'd never read. In the margins were notes that its owner had made. Turning a page he watched as a piece of newspaper fell out into his lap. Picking it up, he examined it closely. There, in black and white, was his picture followed by an obituary.

 

`It must have been so hard on him. Why is it I'm never there when he needs me? I screwed up by trying to bring mom back. Then I disappeared leaving him to deal with my death.' The alchemist didn't bother to read what had been written about him, but instead placed it back between the pages.

 

“Sorry Al.” He sighed, hanging his head, and closing the book. Slouching over he buried his head in his hands. His hair was in its usual braid, although for some odd reason it felt weird against his back. `No matter what I do I just can't be what he needs. I just can't seem to protect him.'

 

“It's alright brother.” The armor told him, taking a seat beside him on the couch. He still hadn't tried hugging him, although he wanted to. He was afraid of getting too used to the idea of having him back. Although he couldn't dream, he was worried this could be a nightmare. Instead he lightly placed a hand on the blonds back.

 

Turning toward him, Ed looked up with a weak smile. Moving quickly he wrapped his arms around the cold metal shell. In return Alphonse did the same, savoring the long embrace. He couldn't feel it, but still it meant so much to him. “I'm just glad to have you back. Winry will be so happy.”

 

Opening his golden eyes Edward thought of that wrench which would certainly collide with his cranium. Letting out a long breath he pulled away. Rubbing his head with his automail hand, anticipating the blow he asked, “Do you think she'll be mad at me?” Just then a sharp pain sparked in his shoulder. “AH!”

 

“Brother!” Not knowing what to do, Al held onto his sibling as the twinge caused him to convulse uncontrollably. Thinking of the letter he'd received a week earlier he thought, `Winry said she was coming to Central today. I hope she made it!' If she hadn't they'd have to go to Resembool, where a headstone baring the name of Edward was already in place beside their mother's.

 

 

The train had come to a stop and the two women were getting off. Gathering the mechanic's bags, they headed into the city. It was crowded up until they got out of the station and onto the main streets. There were still a lot of people, though not nearly as many as by the tracks.

 

The blond was worried about her new companion, who had cried in her sleep while on the ride. She still didn't know anything about this girl. Somehow she felt she needed to do something to ease what was obviously a painful ordeal. “So who is it that you're looking for? My friend has some connections, maybe he could help.”

 

Glancing up at the sky Briana sighed heavily. “I need to find my husband, Jacob. All I know is that he got a train ticket to come here. And that…” She glanced to the woman at her side. “And that he doesn't remember me.” A tear rolled down her cheek as she reached for the man's wedding band that was on a chain around her neck.

 

“I'm so sorry.” Winry didn't know what to say. She didn't fully understand how that was possible. But apparently it was. “What happened? Was there some sort of accident or something?” She was watching Brie's face, hoping the question didn't make things worse.

 

“Accident.” The brunet breathed, as if the word caused pain. “Yeah there was. But it happened a long time ago. When I first met Jake he had amnesia. But when it became apparent that he wasn't going to get his memory back we… fell in love and got married. But now he remembers his past, and has forgotten me.”

 

The mechanic didn't say anything else. She wasn't sure what she could do to help. But maybe Alphonse would know how to find Jacob. Other than that, she didn't know who to turn to. “This is it.” She motioned toward an apartment building that stood in front of them.

 

Climbing the stairs, she had no idea what was about to take place. But fate seemed to know what exactly what it was doing, entwining their paths without their knowledge. Knocking politely she smiled to her companion. “Don't worry, Al will know what to do.”

 

The blond woman watched as the expression on Brie's face changed from worried hopelessness to horror. “Al? As in, Alphonse?” Receiving a nod, she felt her heart stop in her chest. `It can't be. It's not possible.' But when the door swung open, she saw that it was indeed very possible.

 

“Winry!” The younger Elric was relieved until he saw the curly haired girl at her side. “You…” He let out the word in a breath of disbelief. Then the threesome heard a loud moan from within the apartment. “Brother!” Al turned and rushed to his sibling who was still wrenching in pain on the couch.

 

“Edward?” This time it was Winry who could not believe her eyes. There, on the sofa, a face contorted with pain, sat the supposed deceased Fullmetal Alchemist. Snapping back to herself she yelled at him as she had done so many times before, “What have you done to your automail?!”

 

His arm hurt too much to answer. Those golden orbs started to lock on her but quickly took in the woman at her side. “What are you doing here?!” He managed to scream before another shock of pain went through his body. “Ah!” It felt like the automail was constantly being reconnected.

 

“Let me see.” The mechanic pulled off his shirt, touching his shoulder in just the wrong spot. He let out a scream that hurt her ears. “Cover his mouth!” Alphonse did as instructed. The last thing they needed were a lot of nosy people checking in on them. Luckily the apartment building was empty, considering its usual occupants were at school or work.

 

Nothing she did seemed to help. Every time Winry tried to do something to make it better Ed screamed into his brother's gauntlet. Rolling him onto his stomach on the couch, she tried massaging it like she'd done with other patients but it only made things worse. Trying to look at the automail itself was impossible with his constant movements.

 

Brie watched carefully, unsure of what to do. Every time Edward glanced at her it was with a look of distrust. It was obvious that he didn't want her anywhere near him. She clutched to the ring that hung around her neck. His cries of pain were more than she could take.

 

“Move over!” Pushing Winry out of the way earned her a look of frustration from the female. The other blond bucked against her. “Hold him!” Alphonse didn't ask questions, but did as he was told, placing a hand on the alchemist's good shoulder. “Calm down Jacob, I'm not going to hurt you.”

 

Pulling his head away from Al's gauntlet Edward yelled at her, “I'm not Jacob!” He bucked against her again, but couldn't do very much with his brother holding him down. “Let me go! I don't want her touching me.” His heart trusted her completely, which made his mind do the exact opposite.

 

“Look I don't care who you think you are! You need my help and I'm going to give it to you whether you want it or not!” Pushing his head back against Al's hand she held it there. Meanwhile her other fingers lightly brushed over the skin just where his flesh met metal.

 

Ed started to pull away again but stopped when the pain ceased. He relaxed all over, allowing Briana to use both hands. With expertise known only by the years she'd spent with him, she rubbed the juncture. Her brow was furrowed as she massaged his shoulder, causing all of the ache to fade away until it was completely gone.

 

When he let out a sigh she smiled. By now all the motion served to do was relax him. But Brie didn't bother to stop. She kept rubbing, just like she had done so many times before at their home in Brook Haven. It was lulling him off to sleep. Partly she did this to stay with him longer, and partly to keep from fighting with him tonight.

 

Once he began snoring, she stopped. She was in her own world, just him and her. In her mind this was Jacob Everson, her husband. There was no Alphonse, no Winry, no Edward. Leaning over she gently kissed his shoulder, the sign she'd always used to show that her job was complete.

 

Glancing up to Al, she blushed slightly. Motioning to the other room, the three stood and went into the kitchen. This apartment was much like her own, except that it had a real cooking area, instead of a closet, and two bedrooms rather than one. Whispering she explained, “The doctors said that it happened during the accident. None of the mechanics wanted to try and fix it. Every time they tried to even look at it he'd have an attack.”

 

Nodding, Winry understood why they wouldn't want to mess with it. Her work on Ed's automail came straight from her head. There was no pattern for anyone to follow, nothing to go by. “It looks like maybe something's gotten lodged in it, making some of the wires touch every now and then. That would explain the pain.”

 

Swallowing hard Briana looked at the sleeping blond. He sure looked like her husband, well except for the braid. “I'll have to find somewhere else to stay.” She murmured, as if not meaning to say it aloud. When she saw the expression on Winry's face she gave a sad smile. “He,” She pointed to Edward, “is, or rather was, my husband. So I don't think he'll want to wake and find me here.”

 

Alphonse placed a hand on her shoulder sympathetically. “Where will you go? You're not heading back home are you?” He became upset when she nodded. “But you can't. Brother still needs you. I know he doesn't remember but… something in his eyes, I think…”

 

“No.” She didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. “I guess he's right. He isn't Jacob.” Fiddling with the band at her chest, she had to quell a tear before it fell. “I don't have any money to do anything else. Besides, you heard him. He doesn't even want me anywhere near him. What good am I to him now?”

 

A salty droplet slid down her cheek, escaping from the depths of her soul. Not letting it end that way, Al made a decision he knew his brother wouldn't approve of. But in the younger Elric's mind, it would be for the best. “I'll pay for you to get a place here in Central.”