Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ It’s Over ( Chapter 8 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

 

Chapter 8: It's Over

 

After explaining her main problem for the present moment, Briana sighed. “It's all over.” Her friend listened carefully as they sat at a booth in the diner up the street from where he lived. She had ordered a soda and was continually stirring it with a straw as she gazed out the window. “I've lost my husband and now I'm not sure what to do. I've got no one to turn to.”

 

Taking her hand, Wyatt smiled sympathetically. “You've got me Brie. You've got to know that I'll be here for you no matter what happens. Now tell me everything else. It's been close to five years since I saw you last. From what I remember when I left Brook Haven you were going to conquer the world. What happened?”

 

She sighed heavily, thinking about those years. “Well I finished school and after that I started working over at the Reynolds Company. You know, the one that does the finances for all the big name people around here. I was working for them up until just a little while back when they had to downsize.”

 

A slight smile crossed her face. “I was working there when I met Jacob. I was up at the hospital visiting Shawna, you remember her don't you?” He nodded. “Well she became a nurse at the local ER. She told me about this guy who'd been injured that they'd brought in. He hadn't had any visitors and was really down so she took me in there and introduced us.”

 

Her eyes glazed over as she returned back to those happier times. “Then later when I was up there he was screaming in pain. He had automail and it was bothering him. No one knew what to do for him. Anything they tried made it worse. You know me. I just walked on in like I knew what I was doing.

 

“It only took me a little while to massage the pain out of his shoulder. And then he looked at me, and it was like I was the only person in the world.” Blushing slightly she realized she was going overboard in her explanation. “Well we ended up becoming really close friends.

 

“He needed a place to stay and I had an extra room. After that, everything just seemed to progress. He became my world and I guess I became his. We were together three wonderful years. But our marriage only lasted a year and a half before I lost him.” A tear slowly streamed down her face.

 

It broke Wyatt's heart to hear that she'd lost her husband. “I'm so sorry about that. But with time things will get easier.” Taking a sip of his coffee, he wondered about something. “What about that guy that was outside the shop the other day? Is he a friend or something?”

 

She'd failed to mention that Jacob had been an amnesia patient, or that he'd gotten his memory back. “No, he's not a friend. That's just Edward, a real jerk.” Staring into the liquid before her, she sighed. “He doesn't know about anything other than Jacob. I don't want him to.”

 

Scowling, the brown haired man ventured further, “Why not? That is if you don't mind my asking. I mean is there some reason that he doesn't need to know about it?” When she stayed quite he persisted. “Brie, he's not going to do anything that would hurt you is he? Because if he is…”

 

She raised a hand to silence him. “No, no, it's nothing like that. It's just that I don't want the whole world to know.” She could feel his green eyes studying her for more information as she twirled her wedding ring around her finger. “His brother is a close friend of mine. That's whose cats I'm taking care of.”

 

“What?” Wyatt wasn't sure he understood everything. There had to be something that she was leaving out. Some main part to the puzzle that would make everything fall together. “I don't understand. Why are you friends with a guy whose brother obviously has issues with you? Do you think that's wise?”

 

Oh how on earth was she supposed to explain this to him? It was too difficult to give him all the details. Besides, she didn't want anyone who didn't already know to find out about it. “I know you're worried about me. But I am a big girl. I can take care of myself. Al and I are really good friends and I don't want to loose that.”

 

Shaking his head the man across from her still didn't get it. To him it seemed as though it would be better to keep away from that family all together. But what could he do? “Look, you know that you can always come to me. No matter what time, day or night. Just call or come over. You've got my address and number.”

 

Briana smiled at her old friend. He'd always been a little overprotective of her. It was something she'd come to expect from him. “I know that. And I thank you. But I will be alright. I just got a little on edge I guess. But look, do we really have to discuss this right now?”

 

To her relief Wyatt was willing to change the subject. It was apparent that she didn't want to talk about it out in the open. They'd been friends right up until five years prior when he'd moved to Central for extra schooling. He'd tried to get her to come, but at the time she'd refused to leave their hometown. Now he wondered what it was that could change her mind. After all, hadn't her husband died back in Brook Haven? Or was there something more to the story?

 

 

“So it's over then?” Winry was sickened when she saw the alchemist on the couch nod. Producing a wrench from nowhere, she hit him across the top of the head with it. “How could you do that to her Edward?! She's exactly what you've been needing! How could you break her heart like that?”

 

Swallowing hard, he rubbed the knot on his head. His eyes were glazed over as though he weren't really in the room at all. “I don't want her to end up like Gracia. She doesn't need to be widowed at such a young age. That would be harder on her than this divorce has been. Besides,” He sighed, “she doesn't really love me. It's that Jacob that she loved. Not me.” That point hurt him more deeply than any other.

 

“But Ed you are Jacob.” The mechanic insisted, kneeling to make minor adjustments to his automail leg. He'd said that it had been bothering him although she could tell it wasn't true. He walked like a heartbroken man, not an injured one. But she realized he needed to talk with her.

 

“I'm not. I wish I was, but I'm not.” Had he really said that aloud? Had he really admitted that he wanted to be her husband? But that was what he yearned for. He didn't know why but that's the way things were, the way his heart craved for them to be. “She deserves better, and I'm sure he was. He was probably a saint and we both know that I'm not. Winry I just can't live up to that.”

 

Rising up to his level, she peered deeply into his eyes. He was really falling apart over this girl that he swore he wanted nothing to do with. “Have you told Al any of this?” He shook his head. “Well why not Ed? He and Brie get along really well. He's on the phone with her right now. Maybe he could explain it to her…”

 

“No.” The alchemist interrupted, bowing his head to escape that look she was giving him. “It's better this way. She's safer without me. She'll go on with her life and find some guy that will make her happy.” He gave a slight laugh, although his heart certainly wasn't in it, making it an extremely sad attempt. “If she ever takes that ring off. She was still wearing it when she picked up the cats.”

 

Shaking her head, Winry went back to work although there was really none to be done. “I suppose if you give it time she'll forget. But is that really what you want Edward? Do you really want to throw this chance away? She's willing to put up with you just like I am.” Glancing up again she added, “She's willing to let you and Al go look for the stone without her. That means a lot.”

 

Nodding, he sighed heavily. “I know it does, and that's why I can't do it. I can't take advantage of her like that. She's a really good person and she disserves better. She deserves to be the center of someone's world and I can't do that. Not yet anyway.” He stared at his right hand, folding it into a fist. “It's not right to make her wait like that. Not right to take advantage of her.”

 

The mechanic frowned slightly. He was right but she wasn't about to admit that to him. He seemed to be crumbling more and more as their conversation progressed. She had to do something before he fell apart completely. Stopping what she was doing with his leg, she stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Oh so then it's alright to take advantage of me like that? Is that what you're telling me?”

 

He smiled, knowing she was trying to lighten the mood, at least just a little bit. Winry was more than a good friend. She was like a sister to him and Alphonse. In that way she knew exactly what to do and when to do it. “You know that's not what I'm saying. We knew you back before all this happened. So it was different.” His eyes glazed over again. “Now that we know what we're up against, it's not right to pull someone else in. I'm already sorry that you're involved.”

 

Taking a seat beside him she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I don't mind. But you've got to realize that she's already been brought into this. Briana is already a part of yours and Al's life, whether you want to admit it or not. She knows the story and still cares about you.” Grinning warmly, she tightened her grip. “Why don't you call her while you're away? I'm sure she'd like that.”

 

Shaking his head he refused to be moved from his mental position. Logic said he was doing what needed to be done. He'd have to ignore his heart and all else that told him otherwise. “I can't do that. Like she said, Jacob is dead. It's better if we just leave him buried. Al can be the friend she needs, but I'm not sure I should try and be. It would only make things worse.” He glanced toward the door.

 

How he wished he could be in Alphonse's position. At that very moment the armored man was trying to calm her. “Brie, don't worry I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Winry is in there talking to him right now. Maybe she can get him to listen to reason.”

 

A long sigh came through the receiver. “He won't Al. Jacob is gone forever. There's nothing you or I can do about it. Jake would never have done this. And maybe Ed's right. Maybe it's better to get out of a loveless marriage. It doesn't matter now anyway. The papers are signed and it's all over.”

 

Something had snapped inside the girl leaving her grasping to one thin strand of hope. Once that broke, there'd be no going back. Shaking his head Al tried again. “They are the same. You said yourself that the way he reacts and the looks he gives you is the same. Jacob is in there somewhere.”

 

Cutting him off Briana stated the obvious. “And what if when he comes back you loose Edward?” Silence met her ears. “I can't do that to you Al. You need him to help you get your body back. You told me that without him you weren't able to locate the stone. I couldn't take him from you knowing that you'd be left alone again.”

 

The younger Elric hadn't thought of that. Or perhaps he had, only to have it shoved to the back of his mind. “I'm sorry about this Brie. I don't want to loose him but I don't want this to happen to you either. Maybe we could make brother love you as Ed. Wouldn't that fix everything?”

 

She smiled, although he couldn't see it. He would certainly make some woman a wonderful husband someday. “We can't make him love me Al. It doesn't work like that. I'll be alright. I've got Wyatt looking after me. He's the friend I told you about from back home. So don't worry about me.”

 

Alphonse didn't like that idea. He didn't know Wyatt but he didn't want anything to come between his brother and the woman he cherished. Al was sure the alchemist loved Briana, no matter what either of them said. “Are you sure he's the type of guy you need around? I'm sure Mrs. Hughes wouldn't mind helping you.”

 

Oh no there was no way she was going to bring anyone else into this! If she didn't win Edward over soon she'd leave Central completely. There were too many things that could go wrong if she stayed past a certain point. “Look, I can take care of myself. And yes I'm sure Wyatt is the type of guy I need around. We've known each other since we were little. That's more than I can say for either of you two.”

 

That wasn't what he wanted to hear. But then another sound met his ears. “I've got to go. Listen, where we'll be searching I probably won't be able to call. But I'll try and write to you to let you know how things are going. Don't do anything drastic until we get back, alright?”

 

Briana rolled her eyes. “Alright I won't do anything too drastic.” She laughed when he started to protest. “Ok ok so I'll put off any major decision making until you get back. Now good bye, and have a safe journey. Don't let him break that automail. I don't want Winry killing him.”

 

Al allowed himself to laugh as well. At least she sounded as though she were in a better mood than she had been at the first part of their conversation. “I'll try not to. But you know him. Oh here they come! Bye Brie.” Hanging up the phone he turned to watch as they entered the room. It was time to go or they'd miss the train.

 

If only Ed would try to call, or send word, or something. But he didn't. They would be gone a month, leaving the brunette to feel abandoned. Alphonse couldn't find the time to write. They were too busy with their quest. Edward wanted to find the stone. If they could only do that soon, then maybe he would still have a chance with his ex-wife. But as he'd left things, the last strand of hope broke, sending her hurdling down into a deep well of despair.

 

Author's Note:

Well what a cliffhanger! Should I give a preview? Not very good with `em but here goes:

 

Brie has found a man to take the place of Jacob. But what will Ed think about it when he finds out? And why has she decided to move on so quickly? We'll find out in the next chapter called Envy!