Author's Note- Ello everyone! Sorry about not updating for long periods of time but i've just been really busy lately since school's about to be starting back herepretty soon. But to make it up to you i've made a brand new story i've been planning on making for a long time now! Piece's of what use to be! It's a sad story of reality and love, it's not based around Ed and Al's world but it does have all the FMA characters so don't worry! This first chapter took me hours to do so I hope you guys enjoy it! It's depressing at first but the story does get better! So please read and review and give me your thoughts on the story! Thanks so much for reading! Later
Disclaimer:I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or it's character. All the credit goes to it's creator. I do, however, own this story and the made up characters in it.
Chapter 1 - My so called Life
'A life without heartache is like saying your invincible. Too perfect, too fearless, with no worry in the world. A seemingly impossible life that all us human beings thrive for, but in the end never grasp. Not even myself, who has lived nothing but an empty, heartless life of no love...'
September 15th, 2008 was the date. Nearly five years since the incident. But like every year before it, it never seemed to change...
Sighing deeply a tall brown haired woman shifted her gaze from the busy streets outside her window and back towards her dresser mirror. 'Another day, another pain.' She thought with a sigh as she reached behind the back of her head to tighten her hair band around her low ponytail. After making sure it was tightened enough she layed her hands back down to her sides and focused her emotionless dark brown eyes back onto the mirror. She studied herself for a brief moment, taking the time to look over her plain, pale body. Unlike when it use to be, her body no longer held any color. She hardly ever got out due to her constant working and taking care of the children, so she couldn't afford to go out and make herself beautiful like the many other women she knew. It wasn't that simple. Not like it had use to be...
'Even for a young woman like myself I never can escape the past of who I once was. I never could. No matter how much time has already rolled by I still find myself wondering, wishing, that someday he would return to me like he would in my dreams, and no longer would I be a single, lonely woman. No, instead, I would be the girl I had once been before. A girl with hardly any regret or pain who had once been so much in love. A girl who had been turned into a woman over night. A girl who never understood the concept of a broken heart...'
Slowly, she placed her hand upon her old, worn down brush. Her fingers caressed the sides as she stared at it through the mirror, 'Mother's brush...' She thought, 'Like a part of my memories, it slowly fades away. But unlike a few it never disintegrates. It's still here, apart of me. A part i'll never forget.'.Her hand pulled away and retreated back to her side as she then turned her gaze back towards her window. Nothing had really changed. On the outside of her being anyway. She still lived in the same place just a few miles away from everyone else she had once knew. She barely spoke to anyone now. Not that there was anyone to talk to. No one ever called to check up on her. Send messages, birthday and holiday cards, mail to her. Nothing. It's like she never existed in this pathetic world she had once called home.
As time passed her eyes began to bore back into the mirror. The memories coming in and out as the feeling of heart broken heart pounded into another million pieces. For the next few minutes she didn't let go of her gaze on herself. Her pale body, her faded clothes, her dull hair. Fading back into the darkness, never to be seen again, slowly dying untill there isn't one last piece of her in the world as she lets go and becomes part of nothingness...
"Amy!! Hurry up and get ready!! Your gonna be late for work sleepy head!!" Shouted an alarming voice.
Amy jumped, startled, as her mind finally came back into the real world. She blinked a couple times and shook her head trying to wake herself back up, "H-huh? What?" She wondered looking down at the digital clock that layed next to her bed post.
8:45
Her eyes widened as she looked towards her bedroom door, "Damn, is it really time to go already? I just got dressed!" She groaned as she looked back at her mirror. She fixed her hair and her office uniform one last time, making sure that she was fully awake, and after putting on the finishing touches she turned back around towards her bed to grab her work bag, "Honestly it feels like it's only but just a couple minutes." She sighed as she swung her bag over her left shoulder and began walking towards the door and on downstairs. As she made it down below into the living room she began hearing small laughter coming from the kitchen. She smiled at the sounds and walked into the kitchen to find two small children, one girl and boy, and another tall brown haired woman around her age eating breakfast.
She watched as the other woman turned her head and smiled at her, "Hey! Amy! It's about time you finally came down! Breakfast has been ready for over an hour now and I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna play sick and ditch work today." The woman said with a giggle.
Amy smiled sheepishly as she walked towards the table near the two small children, "Heheh, goodmorning Gabbi. Sorry about being late this morning I guess I just lost track of time." She chuckled smiling down at the little boy and girl before her as she wrapped her arms around them.
They both giggled innocently and grinned up at her, "Goodmorning mommy!!" They cheered, clapping they're hands together.
She smiled warmly down at them and kissed the top of they're heads, "Goodmorning Koharu, Hotaru. You guys sleep good last night?" She asked running her fingers through they're hair.
Nodding, they both kissed each of her cheeks, "Yep! I know I did!" Shouted the brown eyed and brown haired boy named Koharu.
"I did too! I had a dream about horsies and pwetty flowers!" Giggled the brown eyed and brown haired girl named Hotaru.
Amy chuckled, "Well i'm glad to hear it. You kids eat all your breakfast?" She asked, watching as they played with they're toys on the table.
"Yes!"
"You make any messes?"
"No!"
"Somehow I find that hard to believe." She laughed as she looked down at the smothered eggs and syrup that had gotten all over they're faces and hands.
The woman named Gabbi giggled and walked over towards the kitchen sink to grab a wet wrap so she could wipe off they're faces, "Heh, sorry about the mess Amy. These boogers here really don't like to keep things clean." She smiled as she handed the wrap back to Amy.
Amy took it with a chuckle and bent down so she could clean up her children's mess, "It's alright, i'm just really glad your taking time off your busy work schedule to help me out with taking care of the twins." She said standing back up.
Gabbi nodded, "Sure, no problem. It's the least I could do for an old friend." She smiled warmly back at her, "And besides it's not like I was doing too hot with finding a job anyway. I needed a break."
"You sure it isn't too much? I mean they can really be a handful sometimes. I could pay you more."
She shook her head, "Hey I said don't worry about it! I still have lots of money to live off of and the twins really aren't that bad. Sure they like to mess with my mind at times but hey! Kids will be kids!" She laughed, "Just try and worry about your own self, alright? You still have lots of bills and taxes to pay. You need to support yourself."
Amy sighed deeply as she looked back at the twins, "Yeah, I know. If only that damn arrogant boss of mine would at least consider raising my paycheck then maybe i'd be getting somewhere and be putting the twins in school." She mumbled, glaring down at the floor.
"You've been begging for him to give you that raise for a while now."
"Yea and he still won't budge. Ugh, i'm starting to get a little tired of how he's been lately too. He's been so busy he hasn't even had time to consider that maybe there's other people that need just as much money as he does." Amy grumbled.
"Well he is the owner of the entire Philospher's Corporation. Shouldn't you also consider the fact that he's doing his best for the company and it's workers while trying to balance out his own welfare?" Gabbi suggested looking back at her.
"I guess your right..." Amy sighed.
Gabbi sighed along withe her, "I know it's difficult at the moment but just give it time. I'm sure he'll come around eventually. Besides he already knows you just as much as I do so he could never let you down." She smiled.
Amy smiled back slightly, "Yeah, that's true. Thanks Gabbi, you really do know the right thing to say whenever i'm down in the rain." She chuckled.
Gabbi grinned real big as she placed her hands on her hips proudly, "Ha! Of course I do silly! I've known you since we were children, how could I not know what to do to make you smile again?" She laughed, "But besides that's I think you should go ahead and get going. You don't want to be late for work again!"
Amy nodded, "Ugh, unfortunately." She muttered as she turned back around to the twins, "Mommy's got to go now sweetheart's." She said kissing they're foreheads softly, "I'll be back later tonight so please be good and don't make a mess for Gabbi." She said with a smile.
They both nodded making sad faces, "Aw, do you have to weave now?" Koharu asked as they watched they're mother slide her coat on.
She chuckled, "Yes, i'm sorry dear."
"But can't you stay a wittle while longer?" Hotaru whined.
"I'm sorry sweety but I can't. Mommy has to go to work for the next few days." She answered with a sigh as she walked towards the front door, "But I promise i'll be able to spend time with you and play games over the weekend, alright?"
"Awww, awight." They both whined, acting too cute for Amy to resist.
She smiled, "Sorry again darlings but mommy has to go now. Please be sure to eat all your dinner or else no desserts, ok? I love you both and i'll see you later tonight! Bye! Bye Gabbi!" She called out waving, blowing a kiss towards the twins.
"Bye mommy!"
"Bye Amy!! Hope you have a good day at work!"
Amy sighed deeply as her hands tightened around the wheel of her car. Her eyes once again fading out as she stared out dully onto the car crowded streets. Her right foot on the gas she began to speed up, trying to move ahead of the other drivers. Her mind seemed completely cut off from the world as she became all alone. The emptiness feeling engulfing her, slowly, she began to feel herself evaporate into the air. Wanting so much to disappear out of this world, into a state where she no longer lived. So many times she had wished it, but so many times she had failed.
She had the trigger, she had death beside her, whispering, chanting...
'Do it...'
'There's no hope. You have no family...'
'No one to love you.'
'But I'm right here for you. I'll take you away from this place. From this cold hearted world and into a better place.'
'You would like that would you?'
'Yes...do it...'
So on and again. It would taunt her to the point she wanted go in insane. The voices in her head were cold, spine shilling. She couldn't describe well enough to even make herself understand. But just as they thought they had, had her in their grasps...she dropped it. She couldn't. There would be no point. She couldn't leave her own children behind. They were the only ones that kept her alive still yet. Even when she was pregnant, death had crossed her mind a couple times. But she wouldn't. She would try and stay strong, even if he didn't believe in her.
She slowly began to switch her right foot on the brake as she came across the red light. After stopping she sighed and looked up ahead, staring at the old buildings in front of her. 'They still remain here. After all these years. The only things left of my memory.'She thought as her eyes then traveled downwards to the streets to find a group of teenagers laughing and fooling around with each other. She use to be like that, she thought. So young and carefree. Not a dought in the world that she would live her dreams and become a beautiful wife to a very handsome husband and perhaps even live happily ever after with him as they grow old together...only too bad for her she had to find out the hard way of how fast your dreams can come tumbling down.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she continued to watch them. They didn't have a clue. They wouldn't have a clue. Especially to understand all the shit she went through right after high school. Life isn't a fairytale. It isn't a game. It's a chance. Of luck or fail. Rich or poor. Life or death. Betting against all odds. Oh how she envied those kids walking by. 'They have no idea how lucky they have it.' She thought, 'I just hope they never mess it up like I did. They may have plenty of chances and choices to change they're mistakes, but I had none.' She thought with a growl, 'No. I had no family to turn to. They all ditched me. My only love never cared and merely just wiped me away like I was just a squashed bug on his windshield. Very few people helped me, but only out of pity.' She growled louder angrily to herself. She had no idea why she suddenly felt so angry. Maybe it was the fact that all those painful memories had suddenly just came back? Like a flame that had suddenly been re lit from the darkness. Flickering and slowly fading into her only sanity...
'BEEEEEEEEP!'
She jumped at the sudden alarm. Her eyes widened as she looked around, coming back again into reality. She blinked a couple times and look in her rear view mirror to find a few other cars behind her, waiting impatiently for her to move on when the light had changed back to green. She sighed and switched her right foot back to the gas petal as she continued forward.
'It won't be too long untill i'm back at the office.' She thought looking up at the road. Silence came back up as the only thing she began to hear was the cars passing by. Slowly the anger began to fade away. Really if she thought about it clearly enough. Her life wasn't all that bad. She did have plenty of close friends back at the office, Gabbi included. She the edges of her lips slowly began to curve into a faint smile, 'Maybe it hasn't been all that bad. Gabbi has been able to help me with taking care of the twins and my payments for the past few years.' She thought, 'And even my boss, Mr. Edward Elric has been quit a big help to me as well.' She thought as Philosphers Corporation began to come into her view. She smiled a bit more as she began to turn into the entrance.
'No, it hasn't been that bad after all. Even after just fine years. I'm doing pretty good for an office secretary...'
"Amy!! Haha!! Goodmorning! It's about time you finally make it! I was a little surprised, I thought you weren't coming in today!"
"Heeeeey Amy! I finished all those papers you wanted me to work on last night. I just now dropped them in your office slot by the door, call me if you want to discuss any of those legal documents over lunch today."
"Amy-chan, your looking beautiful than ever! You still on this Saturday night?"
The rest just kept coming. Amy began to sweatdrop as everyone greeted her with plenty of cheer as she walked among each of the floors. This happened nearly everday. It got tiring after a while but she had to admit she was glad that these people even bothered to acknowledge her. Even though she did know alot of them from high school.
After nearly five minutes of trying to get through tons of her old friends and conversations she finally arrived at her office. She sighed of relief and began searching through her bag for her office keys. As she found them she switched around with a few keys until finally finding the right one and unlocked the door. She smiled slightly as she began walking into her office, turning on all the lights, "Finally, I was beginning to wonder if i'd ever make it back up her-..."
"GOODMORNING AMY-CHAAAN!!" Sung a loud and cheerful voice.
"AGHHHH!!" Amy screamed, quickly turning back around to come face to face with one of her old friends and co workers, Winry Rockbell. Her heart pounded in her chest as she breathed heavily, trying to take in the sudden surprise.
The tall blond headed woman named Winry giggled with amusement, "Hehehe! Sorry if I startled you! I didn't think you were going to be coming in today." Winry confessed, smiling sheepishly.
Amy sighed of relief and gave out a small chuckle, "Oh, goodmorning Winry, and it's cool. I wasn't planning on being late either." She said turning back around and walking towards her long black desk, swinging her bag down off her shoulders and onto her small black chair beside it.
"Oh, did you over sleep again?"
"Kinda, is Edward upset again?"
"Na not really. He's actually too excited this morning to even care."
Amy blinked and looked back at Winry in confusion, "Really? What would he be so excited about?"
Winry smiled as she gave a small shrug, "I'm not really sure. But whatever it is, sure has been tying him up lately. But it's best not to question it. Just be glad you got away with being late this morning." She giggled.
Amy sighed, "Yeah I guess so." She mumbled as she looked around her office. Considering the fact that she was Edward's Secretary, they sometimes had trouble agreeing on alot of things and would sometimes have petty arguments over nothing. But even so she still loved Edward like he was her own big brother. He had helped her get through many difficult obstacles and meet many new friends. It was because of him that she even got this close in the corporation. Or that she even landed an office nearly as big as his. It wasn't as fancy but she did enjoy it better than working in one of those small offices with barely enough room for a printer and fax machine. She did have her own coffee maker, laptop, small but use able refrigerator, organized file cabinets, and even her own comfy colorful couch. But even with all this and her hard work she couldn't get Edward to give her a raise.
"Oh and before I forget, Edward said he's going to be making an annoucement sometime this morning after you arrive."
Amy looked back at her, her left eyebrow arching up in confusion, "What the hell does he want to make an announcement over? Is this the reason why he's been so busy lately?"
Winry nodded, "I'm pretty sure, and if i'm not wrong he should be on his way right about-..."
"YO EVERYONE WORKING THE FLOORS!! Report to the main section as soon as possible! I have an important announcement to make!" Shouted a loud voice over the intercom.
Winry laughed at this, "Well I guess right now! Come on Amy, lets go see what the short geek wants now." She smiled as she began walking out of her office. Amy quickly followed behind her, curious to know what exactly it was Edward wanted to tell everyone, 'He usually doesn't make announcements like these unless our stock markets are going up or down, or if we have any new shipments. I wonder whats up.' She thought as her and Winry finally made it down to the main room.
As they made it they were quickly greeted by everyone else, "Hey Winry! Amy! Whats up?" Asked another girl beside them.
Winry smiled and greeted back, "Hey Saki! Not much how about you?" She asked as the girl named Saki smiled.
Amy watched the two of them continue they're conversation. She didn't know very much about the girl Winry was talking to. She had only started working here a few months ago but never did get around to knowing her fully. But like Winry, she had known everyone else. A few seemed unfamiliar to her but after working for the past four years here non stop, the work did sometimes get to her head. Winry was the first one, besides Ed, she had met. She helped her out with alot of deals and what not, and tried helping her fit in. It helped alot and she couldn't of been more grateful to her cheerful friend. She knew practically everything there was to know about Winry. She knew that her parents had both died a long time ago in a car accident and that she had lived the rest of her years growing up in a peaceful valley with her grandmother. Her childhood friend was of course Edward. They had both grown up together so they were indeed close. So close to the point that Amy had eventually figured out that they were deeply in love with each other. Neither of them knew of course, but just watching just the simplest gestures made you realize that they liked each other more then they were letting on.
She smiled at Winry, opening her mouth open so she could join the conversation until she was interrupted by a loud voice overhead. Everyone quickly looked up to find a slightly tall blond haired and golden eyed man shouting down at them, "Heeey! Will everyone just shut the hell up for a second!? This is important!! HEY! If any of you value your jobs then!! RESPECT YOUR SUPERIOR!!" He shouted out, getting aggravated.
Everyone immediatly silenced after hearing this and turned all they're attention on the tall blond up ahead.
The man blushed slightly at the sudden attention and coughed, "T-Thank you." He muttered as he began to speak, "Anyway I know alot of you are wondering why i've called you here on short notice. First of all before I explain I would like to apologize for being so tied up lately to discuss any ideas, paper work, documents, etc. There has been alot of, well, family issues and a few of which were urgent so i've had to take some time off to straiten things out a little. My family hasn't been doing so well and i've been trying to take alot of care of them lately since a very serious situation just occurred recently..." He said softly, pausing a moment before continuing, "And it's the reason why I have called all of you here today. I know it may sound dumb to alot of you for calling you here away from your busy jobs to hear this but due to this situation I have going, some of you may know my younger brother, Alphonse Elric, will be joining us in our line of work." He spoke loudly looking down at the crowd before him as his eyes glowed.
At hearing this Amy's eyes widened in surprise as she then turned to Winry, "Hey wait a second!" She whispered loudly, "You guys never told me Edward had a younger brother!" She said a little annoyed.
Winry only placed her index finger on her lips and shook her head, signaling that it wasn't a good time to talk about it at the moment. Amy blinked, 'What? Why didn't Winry ever tell me anything!? And I though Edward was just an only child...whats going on? Why is Edward announcing this? What's so big about it?' She thought looking back at Edward.
"I know it isn't a big deal to alot of you but it is to me. My brother is going through alot right now and he has recently just got out of the hospital from an incident that happened so carelessly because of his ex co workers, and because of that co worker he has gotten my brother fired and he's in desperate need of a job right now. So ofr the moment i'm counting on all of you to help my brother out and show him around! It would mean so much to me." Edward spoke as he placed his right hand over his heart, "He's really nice and respects everyone that'll work with him. If I catch anyone disrespecting him I will personally see to it that you loose your job and are escorted from the building, understood?" He asked sternly.
Everyone nodded.
"Alright then. He's starting first thing tomorrow so I don't want any complaints! Go on back to work and if you have any problems about what i've announced then your welcome to come by my office and discuss it. Until then just leave me in peace. Dismiss!!" He shouted, jumping down from the small stage he had been standing on.
Amy blinked, still confused by the news as she looked around for Winry, "Hey Winry, what's this all about? How come you guys never told me?" She asked up at her blond friend.
Winry merely sighed and shook her head, "I'm sorry Amy. I'm not the best person to talk about this with. You should try talking to Edward about it later. I'm sorry again, I have to get back to work, bye!" She called out quickly walking off down the hallways and towards her work post.
"Uh, wait! I-...ugh." Amy sighed and looked down at the floor, "So much for close friendship..." She muttered as she glumily began walking back towards her own office to get back to work, still wondering what Edward and Winry had been planning all this time without her...
