Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ Awakening ( Chapter 15 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

Note: May contain spoilers!

 

Chapter 15: Awakening

 

The alchemist glanced around the room. There were no duplicates. Only himself, Briana, and a rather angry looking nurse. 'Just another nightmare.' Tilting his head slightly, he kissed his wife's hair. Although it was oily and needed to be washed, he didn't care. This was the woman he loved.

 

The worker glared down at him. She wasn't the usual nice employee. This one didn't know all that was going on. "Sir you can't share a bed with the patient. It's against regulations." But she could see that she was being ignored. His lips were still pressed against the comatose lady's head. "Excuse me sir, but you can't sleep with her on hospital property. It's against regulations."

 

Turning to the girl for the first time, Edward smiled. "Go get the doctor. There's been an important development." That having been said he buried his face in Brie's brown curls. 'You're beautiful, absolutely beautiful.' He listened as the nurse stormed out of the room. It was obvious she didn't appreciate being ordered around.

 

Quick heavier footsteps came through the door. "Mr. Elric I realize this has been hard on you but you can't expect me to allow you to break the rules." But when the young man looked at the doctor from yesterday, there was something there that he didn't expect, hope. Clearing his throat he reiterated the problem. “You must get out of that bed.”

 

The alchemist only laughed slightly. “Can't you see? Can't you tell? When I laid down last night it was with her back against my chest. Just look at her now!” The patient, who was said to be a lost cause, had her chest pressed up against her husband's. Her arms were wrapped around his waist.

 

Huffing slightly the physician frowned. “You must have turned her during the night without realizing it. Just look at her face. It's expressionless just as it was when I came in here last evening. Nothing has changed.” It was true; there was no peace or emotion to her pale cheeks.

 

Ed scowled at him, “I'm telling you I didn't move her! Check on your cameras. I'm sure you've got them hidden all around this place. She turned on her own!” He was becoming angry by this time. `It's like he doesn't want to believe me. But I know it's true. How could I have put her arms around me without knowing it?'

 

“Call security.” The doctor ordered, displeased when the man turned his head back to face the patient. It was obvious to him that this man was overcome with grief. When two rather large fellows wearing uniforms came in, he pointed to the bed. “Get him out of here right now.”

 

The officers glanced at each other. They'd been informed that this room contained the spouse of a state alchemist. But they'd been given their orders without being told to stand down by Fullmetal. So one went behind the girl, and the other behind the man, slowly they began to pull. Both were praying to be stopped from breaking up such an obviously loving couple.

 

As if by a miracle the physician uttered their deliverance, “Wait.” There, before his very eyes he could clearly see what he thought was impossible. The thin pale female hands had grasped onto the shirt of the man in bed with her. They were curled into tight fists, grasping the cloth with all their might. “Leave.” He instructed, waving the nurse away as well.

 

Once they were gone and the door was closed he moved around behind his patient. Gently he placed his arms around her and began to tug at her body. Ever so slowly her grip around her husband tightened. Ed glanced up, having felt the change in her limp body.

 

Once the clutch was as tight as she could accomplish they heard her weak voice. “No.” It was faint, almost too soft to be heard. But when the physician tried again to part them once more she became louder. “No.” Shock was painted all over the doctor's face as she began to scowl.

 

Edward however, was grinning. He hugged her back, kissing her head over and over again. “It's alright Brie. I'm here. Don't worry I'm not going anywhere.” With that, the medical worker left them alone, himself still being completely baffled by what had happened.

 

Her face relaxed, becoming peaceful for the first time since she'd been admitted to the hospital. The grip around him also loosened, although not too much. She still had a grasp on him, but her palms were pressed against his back. “J…?” Apparently she felt him tense. “E…?”

 

“Yeah it's me.” A tear streaked down his face. `She wanted him. I knew she loved him more. He wouldn't have…' But when she shifted in his arms all train of thought ceased. “What is it?” She had moved enough so that he could now see her face, and she was slightly smiling, her eyes still closed.

 

“Glad… Ed.” Briana's speech was broken, possibly because she hadn't quite come to yet. But he knew what she meant to say. When he moved her flat onto her back she frowned. “No… go…” He didn't say anything and that seemed to upset her a great deal. “Ed… no… go… Stay?”

 

He shifted closer to her. “I don't want to hurt you. My arm is cold.” Brie didn't try to say anything. She seemed to be thinking. `Or maybe she's slipped back into the coma.' Kissing her cheek lightly he decided to ask, while she might not remember or be able to lie about it. “Who do you love more, Ed or Jacob?”

 

She scowled deeply. “Love… Ed…” Pushing against the mattress with her arm she turned onto her side so that she was facing him. Gently she touched his face. “You… no… J?” But to try and confuse her for a truthful answer, he nodded. Removing her hand, a tear came to her still closed eye. “Sorry J… love Ed… Sorry…” Salty droplets began to fall.

 

“It's alright.” He soothed, repositioning to the way they had been that morning. “We're the same remember. Jacob and Edward are the same and I love you.” But her tears wouldn't end. “Oh Brie, I'm so sorry. It's alright, I shouldn't have asked.” However his heart was lifted in his chest by her answer. `She loves me, Edward Elric. She loves me!'

 

Nodding, she yawned. She was so much thinner now. It had been over a month since she'd been conscious and her body was weak. It was amazing that she'd managed to last as long as she had with all the extra trauma she'd gone through. With a small voice she whispered. “Tired.”

 

The alchemist kissed her head lightly. “Rest.” When he felt her nod he closed his own eyes. Stress was finally catching up to him as well. With her in his arms, knowing that she truly loved him, and not his predecessor to her life, he allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep.

 

 

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

 

“Ed?” Briana's mind felt fuzzy. When she opened her eyes everything seemed to be covered in a haze. But she could feel two arms around her, one flesh, one metal. Blinking a few times she leaned back. `What happened?' There lay the alchemist, still snoozing peacefully.

 

“Mrs. Everson?” A student, who was training to be a nursing assistant, came into the room. She had just started that afternoon and been told nothing more than to take care of the woman in this room. However upon seeing a man lying beside the patient she became agitated. `How am I supposed to handle this?'

 

Brie shifted onto her back, she gave her the warmest smile she could. “It's alright. He's my husband and he's had an extremely hard time.” The poor employee only nodded, still unsure of how to handle the situation. “But please can you tell me, how long have I been here? And is my baby alright?”

 

Flipping through the papers in her hand she frowned. “You've been here five weeks but…” Studying the document her scowl deepened considerably. “But I'm afraid it doesn't say anything about your having been pregnant. Are you sure that you're…” Glancing at Mrs. Everton, her eyes became wide and apologetic. “Oh I'm so sorry… I didn't realize that… Oh no.”

 

She shuttered with the realization. “Don't worry.” Briana told her, wiping the tears away with the back of her right hand. “It's alright. I remember now. Please don't say that you told me.” Shaking her head, she sighed. “If there's nothing else could you please just go?”

 

Bowing slightly, the assistant left, regretting her laps in judgment. When the door had closed Brie swallowed hard. `That… thing…' Looking to her left, she saw Edward's tired and worn face. `That thing looked exactly like him. How could I not know? And now… if the baby is gone maybe he'll go too.' Shuttering again she opened her mouth in a silent cry of pain as the shock wore off. Her whole body quivered with the ache of the loss. `My baby… my baby…'

 

She felt sick to her stomach which brought to mind another thought. Pushing back the covers she lifted the hospital blouse. `No.' A large scar was right over her abdomen. It was jagged and reminded her of those that surrounded the edge of Jacob's automail. However the thought didn't help.

 

Beside her, her husband shifted. Before waking completely he tugged the cover back up over her. “You'll get cold.” Finding her neck and kissed it gently several times. Scowling slightly, realization finally dawning on him, he opened his eyes and peered into hers. “Brie, are you awake?”

 

Nodding, she tried to grin. “Yep.” Running her hand to the back of his neck she pulled his lips against hers. She kept him there for a long moment before he began to caress her in return. When they broke away she was crying. “I'm so sorry Edward. The baby… it's gone.”

 

The alchemist pulled her close. “No, it wasn't your fault. I should have been there. I'm the one who should be sorry.” Pressing her against himself he too began to cry. “Oh darling please don't. You're still not strong yet. Oh my darling it's going to be alright, you'll see.”

 

Moving away from him, she watched his face carefully. He had called her darling, something which he'd never done before. However right at that moment it didn't seem to matter. `But he'll be leaving me now.' The first time he'd used an endearing word seemed to be at their parting.

 

Frowning, he realized that something more was going through her mind. “Briana I love you. You're my whole world.” She turned her face away. “What is it? Darling please don't. I know you're upset but you can't stress yourself out too much. Not now, not when I've just got you back.”

 

Returning to his gaze, her bottom lip began to quiver. “Then you're not going to leave?” The look in his eyes was stunned amazement. “I only thought that… that you were staying because of the baby. I didn't know if you really loved me for me. I was so scared you didn't.”

 

Kissing her forehead, he felt terrible. “Honey I love you. It had nothing to do with the child. I loved you before I knew. That was why I followed you and that guy.” Scowling slightly he added. “By the way he's been calling up here every day checking on you. I guess we should thank him for his concern.”

 

Shaking her head, she placed the back of her hand over her eyes. “I'll worry about him later. I've got to move I can't just lay here like this. I need some air.” Brie started to sit up when she realized something was very wrong with her muscles. She scowled as she tried again. “Edward… What's going on?”