Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ Envy ( Chapter 9 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

Note: May contain spoilers!

 

Author's Note:

I want to make a request. Any of my readers who can draw, would you please draw me some scenes from my story? Or any of my fanfics for that matter. I want to see my characters through your eyes! If you can't draw I understand, neither can I. But if you can please do. Thanks.

Joy

 

Chapter 9: Envy

 

The Elric brothers had returned to Central empty handed once more. However, they had managed to get another solid lead. Still it left them feeling somewhat disappointed. As the colonel had observed, Fullmetal seemed to be downhearted. Now, as if to prove the point, he'd told Al to call and get the cats without him.

 

Meanwhile Edward decided to take a long walk to try and clear his head. Night was just beginning to fall when he passed an old restaurant which had been in business for years. It was expensive, although he knew this only because Roy had said so. The colonel had brought many women here for a dinner date.

 

Ed's golden hair seemed to hang as limp as his shoulders until he spotted them. There, sitting just on the other side of the window was the one whom he had been thinking of. Dashing out of sight, behind a tree, he peered around to get a closer look. His eyes widened at the sight.

 

Sitting in a nice sweater and black skirt, was Briana. Her curls were held back with an exquisite butterfly clip. And although those aqua orbs seemed to sparkle, he couldn't tell why. She seemed happy which made the stabbing pain return to his chest. `She's moved on.' He thought, realizing the wedding symbol was gone, leaving a pale mark around her left ring finger.

 

Then he noticed that across the table from her sat a man. It wasn't a stranger, but rather someone he'd seen only once. `It's that guy, from before.' Indeed it was Wyatt, wearing a black suit, and looking very smug. As the alchemist watched, he pulled out a velvet box and opened it.

 

There inside, was a new engagement ring, glittering for all it was worth. From the looks of it, more money had gone into that thing than her previous wedding band. Her eyes once more began to sparkle. Ed couldn't take it any longer, he turned way from the scene, his chest hurting with a pain unidentifiable. `She's moved on so quickly. How? I thought she loved Jacob. How can she forget me so quickly?'

 

Her voice came to him on a gentle breeze. Glancing past the trunk, he saw her walk out of the restaurant with Wyatt's arm around her. She was smiling, but was she crying? `Tears of joy.' Edward thought sadly. This was becoming more than he could bear. With an envious heart he followed them.

 

Down the sidewalks they traveled. The couple in front of him spoke, though not loudly enough for him to hear. Using his military style, the alchemist tracked them along the streets of Central. Then he realized that the direction they were heading in was extremely familiar.

 

Sure enough, he watched as that jerk led her to one of the upstairs apartments. `Maybe it's his place.' It made his stomach churn to see them kissing just outside the door, although in truth it was only a peck. Dashing his hopes, he observed the set of keys coming from her purse.

 

 

Unlocking the door Briana stepped inside. Glancing up into that loving face, she sighed heavily. She hated doing this to him. “You've been really wonderful Wyatt, and I'll think it over.” When he started to step in, she put the hand with her ring on his chest. “I'll call you tomorrow. Alright?”

 

He frowned slightly, placing his palm against her cheek. “I just want to take care of you Brie. You know that. I've wanted this since before I left Brook Haven. So don't keep me waiting too long. Alright dear?” She smiled and so he leaned down and pressed his lips lightly against hers one last time before waving goodbye.

 

Closing herself off from the outside world, the brunette went to the small desk. Taking a seat she pulled out the last paper she'd read just before signing the divorce document. `Oh Jacob, why did you have to go? I don't know what to do now. Wyatt would take good care of me. But…'

 

A knock at the door forced her thoughts back to reality. Moaning she stood to answer it. Though it was only a few paces away, she made the distance drag on, as if willing the person outside to give up. But they persisted, rather loudly as a matter of fact. “I told you I'd call you to…” She stopped when she saw who it was, and breathed his name with disbelief. “Edward.”

 

Pushing his way in, he closed the door. “So this is where you've been living all this time huh? You've been in the same apartment complex and you didn't bother to say anything.” His voice was extremely upset, although not for the reason he was stating. “This is why you didn't want to tell me where you lived, and didn't want me to bring you home!”

 

Then, pulling her left had before her face, showing her the new ring, he began to grill her on that topic as well. “You sure got over me quickly. Or is it that you really didn't care about me at all? I thought…” He'd become discussed with himself for believing she was anything more than everyone else he'd met. “So you're just going to up and marry that guy now? Not even giving me a chance?”

 

Her aqua eyes were wide as she stared at him. Could this possibly be the same man? How could jealously have taken over the heart of someone who had never truly loved her to begin with? Someone who had denounced their marriage? “I'm considering marrying him, yes. But that doesn't mean that I…”

 

He didn't let her finish, “Well then explain it to me. Because I defiantly don't understand. All of a sudden you take off your wedding ring and get engaged to someone you knew years ago but don't know now! How can you do that Brie? I thought you loved me.” His glare was more almost than she could bear.

 

She studied his face closely. Had she not been so shocked, tears would have been streaming down her cheeks. The way he reacted and spoke was exactly what she would have expected from Jacob, not Edward. “I do… I mean… I love Jake with all my heart. But I've got other things to consider now. Wyatt knows what's happened and still wants me.”

 

“So he knows about me?” Ed broke in, unsurprised when she bowed and shook her head fiercely. “Then he doesn't know everything. Besides you've got plenty of time to find someone. Any guy would be out of his mind not to want you! So what makes this guy so much different from any of them huh? Tell me that.”

 

A salty droplet finally rolled down from the corner of her eye. However, with her hair in the way, he couldn't see it. Again her heart began to break as he turned way. `I'm doing the right thing… aren't I?' Her voice was low and trembling when she finally managed to find it. “Because… not just anyone is willing to raise another man's child.”

 

Edward's back was to her as he continued on with the conversation as if she'd said nothing of true importance. “I don't see what that has to do with anything. I mean it's not like you're…” A light came to his face as he whipped around to peer at her. Hers was covered with wet tears, which she now allowed him to see. “You're not… you aren't… are you?”

 

When she nodded he let out a gasp, his expression becoming blank and unreadable. Quickly words came rushing from her. It was as if a dam had broken through allowing that which had been held back for so long to come forth. “Oh please don't be mad about it. I want this more than anything. And I didn't tell you because, you're not the father.”

 

When the gleam in his eyes changed she clarified. “Like you said you're not Jacob and so you're not this child's father. You don't have to worry about anything because I plan on putting Jake's name on the birth certificate. No one ever has to know any different.” Still he didn't move. “You won't be responsible.”

 

His gaze moved down to her stomach. Kneeling down he touched it through her shirt. Gently she raised the sweater allowing him to see her bellybutton. His fingers barely slid across the skin, making her shiver. “But this is my child. Jacob and I are one, just like Al and Winry said.” He pressed his lips to her torso before leaning his forehead against it. “I'm so sorry Brie. I've been so foolish.”

 

She smiled, placing her hands behind his head. This was what she wanted, to have her husband back. There was really no choice to make. True, Edward was unstable, while Wyatt was just the opposite. The latter had a home and steady job in Central. And yet it was the former who held her heart. “But I thought you said the divorce was for the best. The papers have already been filed.”

 

Turning so that he could peer up at her, he gave a wary grin. “I couldn't go through with it. I never signed the papers.” Kissing her stomach once more, he stood so that they were face to face. It was nice not to have to look up at her. Instead she was the perfect height. “Give me a second chance Brie. If you change your mind we'll go through with it and you can marry that guy.”

 

Shaking her head she smiled. “I won't change my mind. I only signed so that maybe you'd come back to me.” Stroking the side of his neck she added in a playful tone. “And as you can see it worked out rather nicely. Although you did have me worried when you didn't call or write.”

 

Frowning somewhat, he made an obvious observance. “I couldn't exactly write without your address. I'm just glad I got here in time.” Kissing her forehead he stated, “So can you please take off that engagement ring and put your wedding band back on? I don't want anyone thinking you're free for the taking.”

 

She scowled, leaving a slight hint of a smile. “Only if you'll put yours back on. And you better not throw it at me again.” Tugging at the chain around her neck she pulled up the set. They'd been on the necklace the whole time, tucked underneath her shirt. She unfastened the clasp and slid her ring into place. “Now then, it's your turn. I get custody rights to you too you know.”

 

Grinning, Edward took the band and slid it onto his finger. And in that instant he felt as though everything were as it should be once more. “By the way, where's the cats? Al was supposed to call you to bring them to him. But you were out with that other guy. So where are they?”

 

Blushing a little, Briana kissed his lips as if giving an apology. “Promise you won't be mad?” He gave her a look that Jacob had given her many times before. It was the one that asked what she'd been up to. “Well you see Al kind of… He's the one that found this place for me. So he's known where I've lived all this time.”

 

Ed gave her a slight smirk. “So you two have been in on this together?” She shook her head and held up three fingers, leaving him with a frown. “Three?” Then it dawned on him. “Wait a sec! You're telling me that Winry has been in on it too?” The curly headed brunette nodded. “Well I guess you had my best interests at heart.” Pulling her into a passionate kiss, the alchemist found it easy to forgive her anything.