Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ Similarly ( Chapter 19 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

Note: May contain spoilers!

 

Chapter 19: Similarity

 

Scooping Briana into his arms, Edward sat her on top of the kitchen counter. It was already long enough so that with her knees bent slightly she was able to lie down. Of course he had to bend her legs for her, which caused her to frown considerably. “This is frustrating!”

 

He smiled, leaning over to kiss her lips. “I know darling but it'll get better with time, you'll see.” He'd changed into a short sleeve everyday shirt that had been Jacob's. Shawna had packed and sent all the clothes to her. With Ed already having long hair he knew how to deal with it.

 

“That feels good.” She breathed, as he ran the hot water over her scalp. `I've been dying for this!' As he worked the shampoo into a lather her mind drifted back to a few years ago when she'd broken her arm. It had Jacob who was washing her hair while she stood over the sink.

 

 

“Is this alright?” Jake asked, receiving a mumbled yes. He scowled at his automail hand. `I hope it doesn't hook a strand and pull it.' He'd always hated his mechanical limbs. All they seemed to do was get in his way. Rinsing it, he handed her a large towel. “There, all done.”

 

“Can you help me wrap it?”, she questioned, one arm still in a sling. “It's kind of heavy.” Her tresses had always seemed to hold in the water. He nodded, squeezing out the excess then folding the towel around her head. “That feels much better. Thanks Hone.” Kissing his cheek Brie could tell something was troubling him. “What is it Baby?”

 

Moving to the couch, Jacob took a seat patting the cushion next to him. Once she'd sat down he wrapped his arms around her tightly. “It's just that… last night in bed. When I woke up from that dream, I'd cut you with my leg, hadn't I?” She looked away. “Brie, I want an answer.”

 

Peering into his golden orbs she frowned. “You were tossing and turning like always. But don't worry it didn't go too deep. It's just a little nick that's all.” However that was enough to upset him. “Jake please don't be upset about it. It doesn't matter anyway and it wasn't your fault.”

 

“But it was.” He interrupted. Throwing his head back he gave a long sigh. “If only I could remember why I have it. What if I was some crazed murder or something and I lost my limbs in a horrible fight? Would you want to know that you're married to an assassin?”

 

She couldn't help but laugh. “You, kill someone? That's just crazy. You're good right down to the core. There's no way you could do something like that.” She saw he wasn't impressed by her answer. “I don't care what you were because I love you. And if you ever get your memory back I'll still love you.”

 

Shifting so that he was laying on the couch with him against her he sighed. “But the point is we don't really know who I was. Maybe I've got another family somewhere. Maybe they're looking for me.” He realized how stiff she'd gotten. “I don't mean another wife I mean like a brother or something.”

 

Loosening up slightly she tried to sooth him. “Well we've checked all the local papers for missing persons.” A smile crossed over her lips as she pulled her arm back so she could stroke his chin. “Maybe you're a prince who was put under a spell by an evil witch and the only way to break the curse is a kiss.”

 

Jacob laughed, “Well that can't be right or it would have been broken by now.” Tugging at the towel he allowed her wet tresses to fall beside his face. “If this is a spell I don't want it to ever be broken Brie. I want to stay with you forever, just like this.” Closing his eyes he kissed her neck gently.

 

“Mmmm.” She mumbled, closing her own lids. “I'll always be here.” She murmured, allowing his soft breath to lull her into that place between the real and dream worlds. It seemed as though she were in heaven and nothing would ever tear her from this place or her angel.

 

 

“Brie?” A voice snapped her back into reality. “Brie I said is the water too hot?” She shook her head, realizing it was Edward that was speaking. Leaning over he kissed the spot between her eyes. “You were dreaming again. Is everything alright; is there anything I can do?”

 

Sighing she peered up at him. He was watching his hands, careful not to pull her hair. “Everything's fine. I was just thinking.” Reaching up she touched his chin, “Before, you were so worried about who you might have been. But I'm glad things turned out like they have. I like who you are.”

 

Smiling, he rinsed out the shampoo and began applying the conditioner. “Really?” She nodded, laying her arm across her stomach. “I guess it must have been hard, not knowing who you were married to. You didn't have any way of knowing what I might have really been like.”

 

“No.” She stated with a definite tone. “I knew you were truly good. You couldn't have been anything else.” Noting the change in his eyes she finished. “You're a perfect angel Edward. You look after your brother, help people all over the country, and now you're helping me.”

 

Ringing out her hair he gave a slight huff. “I have to look out for Al. It's my fault things are like they are. If it weren't for me he'd have a normal life. Who knows he might even have gotten married by now.” Helping her to sit up he added, “And I'm a dog of the military, I don't help anyone.”

 

Leaning over she put her arms around his neck allowing him to set her down into the wheelchair. “I don't believe a word of that Edward Elric. What you and Al did you had done as children. You're only in the military to find the stone but along the way you've help countless citizens. So don't try and deny it now.”

 

He wrapped up her hair, taking care not to pull it. Rolling her into the living room he took a seat on the couch. When she held out her arms he moved her to sit beside him. Propping his feet up on the table, he shooed away the kittens who threatened to pounce them. “I just wish things were different.”

 

Shifting so that she was laying with her head on his chest she sighed. “I know. I do too, but just think of all the things we do have.” When he huffed again she frowned. “We've got each other, and Al, and Winry. We've got a family however broken it may seem. But mostly I've got you.”

 

Ed smiled at that. `And I've got you.', he thought, wrapping his arm around her. Tugging at the towel he let her wet hair drape across his shirt. Closing his eyes he could almost see a scene much like this one. Leaning over he gently nipped at her neck, producing a giggle. “Ticklish?”

 

She wasn't sure she wanted to answer that. When he'd known before he'd tormented her. But she didn't want to lie, “Yes, very.” Just as she supposed he would it, he did again and again. She giggled. Yet the third time it became more loving, like back before he'd regained his memory.

 

At that moment Alphonse opened the door making the alchemist jump. “Oh hey, I got the books you wanted.” His arms were full and he'd almost dropped them when trying to find the knob. `Great I would walk in just when they were having a nice quiet moment!' It wasn't that he felt unwelcome, but that he didn't want to interrupt.

 

“Can you just put them on the dinning room table?” Edward asked, not moving to help. The suit nodded, closing the door with his foot. Whispering in Brie's ear he said, “I think I need to get up.” But she shook her head fiercely against his chest. “Don't you want me to?”

 

“No.” She moaned, not even shifting to glance at him. “Hey Al, can you bring some of them over here?” He complied without question. Holding out her hand she took one from him. Opening it she found the book might as well have been written in Latin. “I don't see how you two can understand any of this.”

 

Prying it from her Ed smiled. “We just can.” Opening it he began to flip through the pages until he came to one of interest. “I take it I'm supposed to sit here with you in my lap and read it?” She nodded happily. Grinning to his sibling he said, “Pull up a chair Al, it looks like we're working in here today.”

 

Glancing at his sister-in-law he realized this was what she wanted. The smirk on her face said she'd won. “Brother I was thinking that there may be another way to make the stone.” That was enough to win him a stare. “From the research I did while you were away it seems it might be possible.”

 

“But…” Briana didn't know much about how the stone was made so she had to ask. “If you already know how to make it why don't you just do that?” When her husband's expression changed she was sorry she'd asked. “Is it bad, the method you found?” He nodded. “Oh, so what's this new way?”

 

Alphonse was surprised by her question. `Doesn't she want to know what the other method was?' Shaking his head he told her, “I'm not sure exactly. I've just read that there is another possible way. Brother this is one that doesn't include the final ingredient. It might work.”

 

Edward glanced to the woman at his side and frowned. “It was live humans Brie.” There it was, the sickening shock that had been painted across his own face when he first found out. “That's why we can't make the stone using Dr. Marco's method. It would require mass murder.”

 

Laying her head on his shoulder, she placed a hand on his knee. “But you could never do that. You're not a murderer, not you or Al.” Peering to her brother-in-law she smiled. “He wondered about that once before. He even asked me what I'd do if we found out he was really an assassin. I told him then I knew he couldn't be, and I was right.”

 

Leaning forward Alphonse picked up one of the kittens that were playing at his feet. “What was it like for him? When brother didn't know who he was, what was it like for either of you?” He'd wanted to know but hadn't ever bothered to question her on the matter.

 

Ed had sat down his book and was listening closely, waiting for her to answer. “It's hard to explain.” She murmured, trying to remember and put it into words. “It was difficult I suppose. For him that is not for me. He was always so scared that he'd done something wrong.”

 

Shifting so that she could see them both she sighed. “You worried, I believe, that maybe you had left a family behind. Not only siblings and parents, but perhaps a wife and children. We checked all the towns around for missing person's reports but never found anything. We never thought of looking as far as Central.

 

“Then there was the automail. You thought you might have lost them in a battle of some kind, that you'd been a murderer or something. I tried to tell you otherwise but you kept saying that we didn't really know. And how was I supposed to answer that? I really didn't know.”

 

Shaking her head she closed her eyes. “You thought I wouldn't want you if you ever got your memory back. But it was the exact opposite, you didn't want me.” A tear slid down her cheek. “We always thought you'd get your memory back but I had no idea you'd forget our life together.”

 

Wrapping his arms around her Ed pulled her close. “I'm so sorry Brie. I didn't realize what had happened that morning. When I woke up with you I thought… I didn't know what to think. To me, no time had passed, but for the rest of you it was three years. I'm so sorry.”

 

Pulling back she sighed. “It's not your fault, you didn't know. I'm just glad you changed your mind.” Smiling she brushed away the tears. Glancing to Alphonse she added, “And now you've got your old family back. I must admit, though, it is a relief, to find out you weren't already married with kids.”

 

Al chuckled. “Yeah I can see where that would have caused a problem. I suppose finding out he's got a brother in a suit of armor and a crazy mechanic is better than that.” The joke went over without too much of a pang to Ed's heart. Instead Briana laughed and nodded.

 

“Well I suppose.” Edward mumbled, opening his book back to the page he'd marked. “But I wouldn't let Winry hear you call her crazy or she'll bring out that wrench of doom. She'd leave you with more than just a few dents in that suit of yours.” He smiled despite himself.

 

“Oh she's not that bad.” Brie offered, earning her a `Are you serious?' look from both men. Laughing she grabbed the book from her husband. “Yeah well you two aren't getting any work done! I bet I could figure this stuff out before you two even got started reading!”

 

“Hey!” Ed grabbed at the book but stopped when she settled against him, holding it open for him. In that position he found he could concentrate, not having to worry about her. She seemed to sooth his restless mind allowing him to think without distraction. When he needed a page turned he'd tap her hand and she'd oblige.

 

Meanwhile Al read on his own, although he did glance up to watch them every few minutes. `Brother looks so happy.' He knew his sister-in-law couldn't possibly understand such a complex book. It was one he used to have trouble comprehending. And yet she seemed content to merely be in her husband's arms.