Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ Divorce ( Chapter 7 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

 

Chapter 7: Divorce

 

The next week, Briana received a phone call telling her to come over so that she could sign the papers. Realizing that arriving too quickly would look bad, she took time to glance through some of Jacob's old papers. A tear came to her eye as she read a few of them.

 

My love stays by me,

Though she knows me not.

She's taken my name.

Though it is not mine to give.

 

Brie could remember when he'd written that one. He'd said it wasn't good enough to finish. Oh how she wished he had. She understood its meaning. He didn't know himself, nor had she. But they had made their life together, refusing to let his past stand between them.

 

Who am I? I find myself asking that question more and more. I know that Brie doesn't care. No that's not right. It's not that she doesn't care, but that she doesn't mind. She loves me no matter what. I want to ask her hand in marriage. But how can I when I don't have a real last name. Oh sure, I go by Everson, but it's not the same. I want her to be mine forever and always. That's what I've wanted since the day I saw her in the hospital. I don't know why but… oh wait, I can hear her coming. Got to go. I'll write more later.

 

Glancing at the heading, she realized that this was a page that had fallen out of one of his many diaries. She'd known he was worried about it, and tried to reassure him that it didn't matter. `Forever and always. If only he still wanted that now.' Shaking her head, she picked up another one.

 

As the sunlight streams in through the window of our bedroom, I realize just how lucky I am. Her brown curls pour over her shoulders, framing the face I love so well. Gently I stroke it, her skin that is soft as silk. Her aqua eyes are closed, and yet I know when they open they will look upon me with the warmth of an angel. If only I could find some way to tell her, to let her know that my heart will never let her go.

 

The salty droplets poured down like rivers. `But he has let me go. He has left me.' Shaking her head and laying down the writing, she found it was time to go. If she didn't leave now, she'd change her mind. `He's not Jacob. He's not, he can't be or he wouldn't be doing this to me.'

 

Pulling on her jacket, she dried her cheeks on its sleeve. Walking out the door she closed it, leaving the ghost of her husband inside. She would have to be strong, would have to overcome this. There was more than just herself to think of now. She'd have to do what was right, what was best for all evolved. Her head hung as she strolled along the sidewalk. A chilly wind whipped her curls, making her shiver.

 

Everything insider told her that she didn't want to sign those papers that were waiting for her. But Jake was gone, and left in his place, was a man who didn't know or love her. It was better if she just let him go, wasn't it? If she did that then maybe he would come back. Wasn't that the way it worked. If you hold on too tight you will drive a person away. But did doing the contrary produce the opposite result?

 

The door was opened before she even had a chance to knock. “Briana, I'm so glad you're here.” It was Edward, not Jacob. She had to keep telling herself that to keep from falling apart. “Come in. We've got to hurry get these signed. Al and I will be going to be out of town for awhile. It's a major lead, the best one we've had.” He was smiling, although it seemed to be forced.

 

“Oh, so you two are leaving?” To her horror, he nodded as he led her to sit at the dinning room table. Swallowing hard she looked at the papers with the red X's signifying where she needed to sign. She studied them for only a moment then, quivering slightly, she took the pen that was stretched out to her. “Bye Jake.” She breathed, thinking the brothers couldn't hear.

 

Alphonse wasn't able to, but Ed did. It sent a stab straight into his heart, almost making him jerk the pen back from her. But still the logic inside him refused to give way for passion. “Just sign here…” He pointed to the line. After she'd done so he turned a few pages, “And right here.” Again he pointed, noticing that she was still wearing her wedding ring.

 

“Are you ok Brie?” Al, who had been watching the display from the kitchen came into the room. He had noticed how extremely depressed she looked. Although she'd managed to pull off a brave face for the past few weeks, it was now beginning to crumble. Lately she seemed as though she were falling apart. But she nodded slightly in answer to his question. “Are you sure? You don't look so good.”

 

Standing from the table quickly, Briana placed a hand on her lips and dashed off toward the bathroom. The brothers glanced in the direction she went, and heard the door slam. The alchemist's face fell as he slouched into the chair she'd just vacated. “It's so hard on her.” He glanced down at the document that had caused the problem. The lines where he would need to put his signature were still blank.

 

Turning from him, Al went to take a seat on the couch. “She signed them brother. You should be happy.” The voice inside the suit was as cold as the armor. “I know it's not your fault brother, but couldn't you at least give this relationship a chance? You two could be such great friends. You said so yourself.”

 

Ed glanced to his sibling disapprovingly. “Al, you know I can't do that. It would only put her in harms way. Just think about what happened to Hughes.” Both men froze at that comment. Fullmetal hadn't even realized he was going to say it until the words passed his lips. But it had been on his mind for a long while. “I don't want to see her end up like that, or like Mrs. Hughes.”

 

Alphonse hadn't realized what the older Elric's reasoning had been. “I'm sorry brother, you're right.” He didn't want to see Briana murdered like the lieutenant colonel or widowed like Gracia. It was because Maes had gotten mixed up with this work that he'd been killed, leaving Elysia without a father.

 

It was then that the woman in question came into the room. Her face had paled considerably. She refused to look at either of the men. Her head remained downcast, her hair shielding her eyes from their view. “I've got to go home now. I'll be by later to pick up the cats.”

 

Standing, Edward placed a hand on her shoulder. Instead of finding it strong, as he had when he'd met her in the city, it was slumped and seemed weak. “You don't look like you need to be going anywhere.” His voice was kind yet strong. But she pulled away from him. Not roughly like Winry would have done, but like an upset child not wanting to be comforted. “At least let me walk you home.”

 

Her blue green eyes finally turned upward, sending a chill straight through him. Something in her had broken, leaving her heart empty. “You've done enough Edward.” Making her way to the door she stopped after she'd opened it but before she stepped out. “Jacob is dead, no one can help me.”

 

When they were left alone, Ed felt a stabbing pain in his chest. `Go after her!' A voice in his head screamed at him. `Go after her now! You love her!' No, that couldn't be. He cared, but he didn't love her. Swallowing hard he felt like the jerk he had become. He'd destroyed a wonderful woman.

 

“Brother, I thought you wanted to get those papers back in so they could be filed. The office will be closed soon if you don't do it now.” Alphonse knew his sibling had put off signing the documents. He thought perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Jake wasn't completely gone.

 

Glancing up at him, Edward felt as though he were falling apart. How could that be? The great Fullmetal Alchemist, falling apart over some girl, surely it was nonsense. He'd done so much in his life. How could one person cause him to break? “I'll do it later Al. It doesn't matter if it gets done right now or not.”

 

Once she'd made it home, Briana crashed completely. After shutting the door, she fell onto the bed, allowing herself to let go and cry. Sobs racked through her body, leaving her weak. She wanted so badly to feel Jacob's arms around her once more. But that seemed impossible.

 

He had died when the alchemist's memory had returned. That made everything seem worse. `It's my fault. I'm the one that told him it was what we wanted. But I didn't realize that it would mean loosing him completely. I didn't know that if he remembered his past that he would forget me.'

 

She began to weep even harder. `I swore that I'd never leave him. But leaving Edward doesn't count, does it? They aren't the same person. They can't be.' Turning onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling. `I wish I could go back and change things.' Gently she laid a hand on her abdomen.

 

Already she felt sorry for even thinking such a thing. `No that wouldn't be doing Al right. He's a nice guy and deserves to have his brother back.' Shaking her head, she covered her eyes with the back of her arm. `I'll just have to learn to deal with this on my own. There's nothing else I can do.'

 

The phone rang beside the bed, making her moan. She didn't feel like talking to anyone at that moment. In fact she felt like she wanted to just close her eyes and escape the world completely. With great effort, Briana managed to pick it up and hold it to her ear. “Hello?”

 

“Brie? I was just wanting to make sure you got home alright.” It was Alphonse, not his sibling who should have been the one calling to check up on her. “Are you sure you're ok with this? I mean… maybe we could still try and change his mind.” His voice seemed upset. “He needs you Brie, even if he doesn't know it.”

Shaking her head, she laid back on the bed again. “I'm not so sure anymore Al. I seriously doubt he needs anyone, especially me.” A tear streamed down her cheek. She was feeling sick once more, though she knew there was nothing left in her stomach. “I just don't have the strength to do it anymore Al. I'm sorry.”

 

Sighing, Alphonse told her, “It's alright. Look I'll let you go for now. You sound like you could really use some rest. You've got the key to our place to pick up the cats. The plans changed so we'll be leaving early in the morning.” Before hanging up he added, “I'll try to call you later alright?”

 

“Alright.” Briana affirmed. “Bye Al, keep safe.” And with that their conversation and her day was over. Closing her eyes she breathed in deeply. `I miss you Jacob.' Slowly she drifted off to sleep. It would have been peaceful had she not had to awaken without him by her side, as he had been in her dreams. Thus she spent the next morning crying over her lost love.