Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Love Forgotten ❯ What Happened ( Chapter 40 )

A Love Forgotten

By Joyfulmusic

 

I don't own FMA

Note: May contain spoilers!

 

Chapter 40: What Happened

 

When Briana woke up it was early, dawn still several hours away. She blinked a couple of times before realizing there was a pair of arms around her. Tensing, she slowly turned to see who had her. Her eyes grew wide as she came face to face with her captor. `No… it can't be.'

 

Angrily she shoved against him, sending him hurling off the bed onto the floor. As soon as he hit the ground Edward jerked awake. He stared up at the hatred filled blue-green orbs. Rubbing the back of his head, which was now sore, he questioned, “Darling, what is it?”

 

Wrinkling her nose she growled, “Don't you dare call me Darling you monster.” Quickly she moved to the end of the bed, trying to get out the door. But he was behind her in an instant, holding her as she struggled against him. “Let me go!” She cried, jabbing him in the stomach.

 

Falling backward onto the floor, he let out a painful gasp which caught her attention. She turned to look at him as he lay there, holding his side. “You know that won't work with me Envy. Why don't you just give up?” Flinging the door open she rushed out into the hallway.

 

It wasn't until she made it to the living room that she realized she wasn't in the old theater anymore. She was horrified when the reality of what she'd done came to her. Hurrying back to the bedroom she cringed to find him still sitting on the ground. Kneeling down beside him she glanced at his leg. `No mark.'

 

Lifting up his shirt she saw that blood was beginning to seep through the bandage. “It's ok.” He mumbled, seeing the dismay on her face. Tears were already beginning to glisten, threatening to fall. Pulling her close he soothed, “Baby, it's going to be alright. It's not that bad.”

 

Sniffling she apologized, “I didn't mean to… I thought you were him. Oh Edward I'm so ashamed of myself.” She could feel the gentle kisses he placed on her head while she wept. “I tried not to let him get to me Edward, but I guess he did. I'm so sorry… so… so sorry.”

 

“Hush.” He breathed, brushing back her curls and tilting her chin up to look at him. “It's not your fault.” He could tell his words did little to calm her. “What did he do to you Brie?” Immediately he regretted asking her such a question after what had just happened. “Never…”

 

But she was shaking her head, willing to answer. “He wanted my love because it was something that you had, to love him, like I love you. When I wouldn't give it to him the punishments began.” She quivered in her husband's embrace. “He would beat me. But every time it happened, he'd…”

 

She bowed her head, unwilling to finish the statement. However the alchemist already had a fairly good idea of what had taken place. “He'd take my form wouldn't he?” The brunette nodded, still not looking at him. Rubbing her back he kissed her forehead for a long moment.

 

Shifting, she brought her lips to meet his. This was her spouse, not the creature who'd beaten her so many times. But there was still a change he didn't know about, a condition that he'd have to find out sooner or later. She decided to get it out of the way, not willing to start a charade.

 

Pulling back she looked deep into his golden orbs. “Edward, there's something I need to tell you.” The frown on her face showed that it was going to be a serious conversation and so he listened intently. “It's about the stone that Envy used to heal me. It didn't just disappear.”

 

Sighing she tried to find some way of explaining what she wasn't sure she understood. “When he pressed it into my back something happened. I think it might have seeped into my vertebral column and stayed there.” She could tell that she'd have to show him what she meant.

 

“Make a knife.” He did so without question, using alchemy to create one from a metal whatnot that was sitting on a table nearby. When Brie took it from him she sighed. She didn't want to show him what a freak she had become. But he was her husband, and had a right to know.

 

As she moved to press it against her leg he caught her arm. “What are you doing?” Pulling it from her he effectively kept her from inflicting any damage. However she took it back from him slowly, the look in her eyes telling him to watch. Reluctantly he did so without question.

 

Silently he observed as she raised her skirt and slid the blade across her thigh. “Now wait.” She murmured and to his amazement within moments the wound began to heal. A few seconds later it was completely gone. There was no scab, no scar, no sign it had ever been there.

 

Rubbing her skin, Edward studied it for a long while. “We can't let the military know about this.” He muttered more to himself than to the woman he loved. Glancing back up at her he realized that she was worried about what he thought. “But it's alright. So long as it stays in the family you should be fine.”

 

Briana nodded, grateful when he pulled her into another long passionate kiss. It seemed as though everything would actually be alright. `He doesn't care. Envy was wrong, I am still human.' She'd been told so many times by the face of her spouse that she wasn't, and so had begun to believe the lie.

 

Slowly she moved away, standing and heading for the bathroom. It wasn't long before she returned with the first aid kit in hand. Kneeling back down beside him, she pealed away the bandage she'd applied earlier. As she saw what had happened, she cringed. Where the wound had already begun to knit back together it was pulling apart.

 

Pouring the rubbing alcohol onto a small rag she warned, “This is gonna hurt.” She wasn't surprised when he made a hissing noise of pain. Quickly she blew across it gently, trying to ease the sting. After he'd relaxed she rubbed it with antiseptic ointment. Carefully she placed another piece of gauze across the cut, using medical tape to hold it in place. “There, all done.”

 

With a sigh Edward rose, taking a seat on the bed. He watched as she changed out of the old dress into something more comfortable. By the way she examined her hair in the mirror he could tell she was contemplating a shower. “Not tonight.” He pleaded, wanting only to be together for that night.

 

Turning to him she gave a slight grin. “Alright.” Crawling back into bed she sighed heavily. She was going to suggest not cuddling for the sake of his side but he pressed up against her before she got the chance to say anything. Her back was against his chest, but she moved her arm to massage the back of his neck.

 

He gave a low moan of gratitude. It didn't matter to him that her locks were oily. In a way it reminded him of the night they'd spent together in the hospital. `Only this time she's awake.' Nipping at her shoulder earned him a giggle. “I'm so glad to have you back home.”

 

Nodding, she smiled. “I'm glad you found me.” Her mind began to wander as she thought back to what Jacob had told her. “Edward, are you and Jake really going to be whole?” She could feel him become rigid at the question and she was almost sorry she'd asked. “I mean, will you allow him to merge?”

 

Closing his eyes, the alchemist tried to figure out how to explain to her what was going on inside him. “I don't know how. He says that I've put up a wall but I can't even see it. No matter how hard I try I can't take down what I can't find.” It was her turn to stiffen, but only slightly.

 

“Maybe it would help if you quit worrying about my feelings for him as a separate person.” Shifting so that she could see his face she continued. “You've got to understand that in my mind you and he are already one. The only difference with merging is that you'll be able to remember those first few years we spent together. Isn't that what you want?”

 

Pressing her close he was desperate to believe her. Why was it so hard for him to have faith in her love for him? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he'd kept most people at arms length for so long. In a way his father walking out on his mother had affected his trust of people in general.

 

“I want you.” He said at last, unsure as to why he'd worded it like that. `Because it's the simple truth. It's what everything comes down to.' Stroking her cheek he frowned. “I guess I'm worried that if I do remember I'll realize what a bad husband I've been since regaining my memories.”

 

An unexpected smile passed over her face. It seemed as though she were relieved by his answer. “Darling you don't have to worry about that. You're still the most wonderful husband in the world. You've loved me and taken care of me even when I was a complete… well you know. I couldn't ask for a better man to spend my life with.”

 

A thought crossed her mind which had actually been forming for quite some time. “Did you ever consider the fact that you'll find out you're better than you were?” His shock made her giggle. “I'm not saying that you are in everything, but in some ways things changed for the better. We don't have to worry about an unknown past anymore, only about the future. And that's the way it should be.”

 

Ed grinned, contented with her analysis of the situation. “I guess you could be right.” As she turned so that her back was pressed up against him once more he gave her a tight squeeze. “I don't know what I'd do without you Briana. You're what makes life worth living.”

 

Laughing she closed her eyes. “Before you always had a goal, to restore Alphonse. I suppose now that you've completed that task you'll have to come up with another.” He nipped at her neck as a playful response, producing a giggle from her. “I meant a long term goal Edward. Maybe you could become an alchemy teacher.”

 

He sighed before murmuring, “I'm not so sure about that.” He didn't exactly want to be feared like his own instructor. Of course he supposed he could always be somewhat nicer with his pupils, although her methods had worked. Finally he ventured, “You should have a long term goal too. What do you want out of life?”

 

That was a good question. `What do I want out of life?' She hadn't thought about it since she was a little girl. “I suppose I want to help people. I don't know how but that's what I want to do.” She felt as though it were a stupid reply. `Not exactly the best thing I could have come up with.'

 

Kissing her head he tried to think of something that might suit her. “I guess you could become a math teacher since you're so good with numbers.” That didn't seem to hit the mark. “Or what about a children's' author? I saw some of your writings when I was going through those boxes under the bed.”

 

She shivered, `He read my works? Oh I can't believe him! They're terrible!' Aloud she managed, “We'll see. Right now let's just get some sleep.” While that was the end of their conversation, it didn't stop her mind from reeling. `I want to be your wife. That much I'm certain of.'