Hiiiii! Okay this is my first ever shot at a Fullmetal Alchemist fanfiction. Ever since watching the anime I kind of had this idea for it in my head and after some thinking it over, I've decided to give it a shot! Some things to know are: (1) This is three years after the anime not two like it originally said it was. Three kind of just appeals to me more. (2) Since a lot of people seem to be debating over Mei's age during the anime, I've decided I'll stick to what some are saying and make her 12 in the anime. Because of that she'll be about 15 now with Alphonse being 17. (3) This is just a trial fic. If I don't get a good enough response I won't continue. (4) I do NOT own FMA or the characters. (5) Everyone enjoy the story! :)

We belong together,
like the open seas and shores.
wedded by the planet force,
we've all been spoken for.

-'We Belong Together by Gavin Degraw

Xing. A beautiful country to the east of Amestris enriched with culture and mystery. High rising mountains sloped down into deep rich valleys. It was a place entirely its own, untouched by Amestris and its own influence by a vast desert. It is the same desert that a young Xingese girl crossed three years ago to attain immortality and it will be this same desert that a young man and his two companions will cross to meet with her again.

For Alphonse Elric, stepping foot into foreign soil was something entirely new and exciting for him. He had been all over Amestris from the frigid north to the heated areas of the east, but never had he been out of the country he called home. At his flank were two men he had met on his journey years ago, two tall and imposing men who looked more like body guards than just two friends accompanying him.

"Hey," Zampano spoke up to Al as they made their way through the streets of one of the border towns of Xing. "Do you know how to get to where we're going? I just realized, we're practically flying blind here." He said keeping stride with Al perfectly as they went. Some of the younger kids looked up with curiosity and wonder at the foreign men, one of them caught by Zampano staring and when the adult male returned a gentle smile, he quickly ran away.

"According to Mei's letter it shouldn't be too far from the border of the desert. The Chang clan should be a few towns over." Al explained. He was really looking forward to seeing Mei again; maybe even stopping by to see how Ling was doing and Lan Fan. Last he heard Ling did, in fact, earn a place on his father's throne and as such was whisked away to the palace to begin his training so he would be ready to take the throne once he was old enough. Though Al's main focus was learning Alkahestry from Mei, but looking around the town and the people, he also liked the idea of immersing himself in a new culture, maybe even bring something home for Winry, Edward, and Pinako.

"Would you like to buy a gift for the woman in your life?" Came a voice from off to the side. Alphonse turned his head to be met with a necklace inches from his face, past that were the eyes of an aging woman with graying hair and the signs of a hunched back.

"Um, no thanks." He responded politely, waving a hand in front of him. He didn't have a woman in his life, at least not in the way that the old woman was insinuating.

"Ohh…come on." The old woman pulled her hand back and looked at him with a kind smile, the crows feet at the edge of her eyes wrinkled a little as a result. "I can't believe that a handsome young man such as yourself has no lucky lady waiting for you. I'm sure there is someone…" She trailed off knowingly. Honestly, a young man like him without at least a girl who liked him? There was no chance of that.

"Why not!" Zampano spoke up for Al, clasping his hand on the younger man's shoulder, making him flinch a little bit in response. "Maybe you can get Mei something nice when you see her." He grinned mischievously and glanced back at Jerso, who matched his grin.

Al flushed a little in response to that and smacked the hand away, knowing that they were just trying to mess around with him. Unfortunately it worked because the old woman's eyes lit up with joy at the news of Mei and beckoned for them to come over to her little shop where she housed handmade trinkets and jewelry.

"Mei! So I was right there is a young woman waiting for you!" She replied jovially as she walked over, albeit slowly, to the other side of the little stand. "She sounds Xingese. Are you on your way to see her?" She asked,

"Yeah I'm actually on my way-" Al began, but the moment the first word escaped his lips, the old woman disregarded anything else said, interrupting him mid sentence.

"Excellent! Maybe she'll appreciate a beautiful jade necklace or maybe some precious blue stones?" She held up one of each: the first one being a beautiful necklace with jade pearls and the other being a light blue stone hanging on a chain by itself. The stone itself looked like rock, not a gem, but the coloration of looked almost as if it was plucked from the ocean.

"Um…well…" Alphonse began unsurely all the while Jerso and Zampano were laughing to themselves in the background. Leave it to them to throw him in the lions den and leave him to fend for himself. He sighed and his shoulder slumped as his eyes scanned the jewelry on display. One bracelet in particular caught his eye. It was like the blue stone necklace only pink and there were many tiny little stones all pushed together. The bracelet was simple, not nearly as eye catching as the pearls or the blue necklace, but he remembered last time he saw Mei; she wore a lot of pink. Guessing that might be her favorite color, he pointed to that instead. Hopefully she'd like it.

After traveling past several towns, Alphonse, Jerso, and Zampano finally reached the town under the Chang clan's rule. It was around midmorning and the place bustled as men and women weaved in and out of markets, going about their daily business. Compared to the other towns, this one seemed a little less bustling, and a little less well kept. It was definitely one of the smaller towns that they've come across so far, but that was just speculation. After all, Xing was a huge country.

After asking a few people for directions, Alphonse, Zampano and Jerso finally made their way up a hill where the Chang house was. When they reached it they found a gate surrounding the place, see through, with the emblem of the Chang's on the front. Inside were a few people standing around talking and at the sound of movement, one turned his head to address them.

"What's your business?" He asked simply as he walked towards them. This man was obviously middle aged with graying hairs at the corners of his dark head of hair. He had a mustache and his face sagged a bit. He was wearing typical Xingese clothes, not at all one of a guard or a nobleman.

"I'm here to see Mei Chang. My name is Alphonse Elric." Alphonse replied and out of the corner of his eye he could see another man coming over. The two men whispered amongst themselves before the second man bent forward lightly and walked away.

"Wait here." The first man said, though there really was not much of a choice. The four of them settled into silence as they waited. Occasionally Jerso and Zampano would exchange hushed conversations and Alphonse would turn his head in interest, but the conversations almost always turned out in the end to be no interest to him.

"AAALLLPPPHHHOOONNNSSSEEE!"

Alphonse turned at the accentuation and loud exclamation of his name with a swift and off guard expression. Coming out of the building was a girl that Alphonse hardly recognized. In fact, had it not been for the customary shouting of his name that let Alphonse know exactly who it was, he'd never recognize the raven haired beauty running towards him while the men scrambled about to get the gate open.

"M-Mei?" Alphonse blurted out unexpectedly. Before he knew what was coming, Mei wrapped her arms around him, crashing into him with such a force that, if Al didn't have a steady stance, probably would have knocked him over. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, his hands tangling a little bit in her soft raven hair to return the hug. Jerso and Zampano didn't say anything, but the smiles on their faces radiated off and surrounded Al, making it all too obvious what they were doing.

"Alphonse! I've missed you!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck before pulling back. She kept her hand on his chest as she beamed happily at him.

It was then that Al could finally take notice to how much Mei has changed. Her face wasn't as round as before, but thinner and more mature. Her eyes were still wide and hopeful, but different, worldlier. Her hair was no longer in the bun and braids, but cascading down her back. She wore a typical light blue with black pattern Xingese dress only the bottom half the dress had slits all around and underneath was white legging type of pants that reached to mid ankle. Black Xingese slippers were on her feet.

"My, my Mei hugging strangers outside and in daylight, what would my brother think?"

Mei visibly stiffened at the sound of an unknown female voice and quickly pulled away from Alphonse and stood with her hands behind her back. Walking up to them was a petite and serious looking young woman, no older than eighteen years old. Her hair was up in an elegant bun and she wore a dress similar in style to what Mei wore with the only difference being she had no slits on the bottom of her dress.

"Jia…" Mei trailed off, her voice going from normal to soft and insecure instantly. Looking from the woman whom Mei called 'Jia' and then back to Mei, Alphonse seemed a bit confused by the situation. What did she mean by 'what would her brother think'?

Jia looked at Mei critically and in disinterest before her gaze went to Al and his companions. Her expression never changed, but a small smile formed on her face, though it was obvious that it was more out of politeness then sincerity. "My name is Jia Mao." She introduced herself.

"Uhh Alphonse Elric." Al introduced himself as well with a slight bow. He wasn't sure who this woman was, but something about her was unsettling to him. That and the fact that she radiated nobility made Alphonse feel like bowing would probably be most appropriate.

"Here to see our little Mei?" She asked casually, looking over to Mei whose eyes traveled back up her with a little bit of hesitation. She sighed and slumped her shoulders a little bit before quickly lifting them up again, as if remembering something she momentarily forgot.

"Yes," She said curtly with a small nod. "I met Alphonse three years ago when I went to his homeland on a quest for my clan-"

"The one to attain immortality, but lost to a member of the Yao clan, yes…" She droned, waving off whatever else Mei had to say with a lazy hand. Jia turned her direction back to Al, completely oblivious to the murderous and frustrated glare that Mei was casting her. "So, what brings you to our side of the desert?"

Alphonse looked to Mei as if expecting an answer out of her, but the look on her face was curious. It almost seemed as if she was expecting Jia to say something. "I…came here to learn Alkahestry from Mei." He replied slowly.

"Hmph." Was all that Jia managed to let out before turning on her heel. "Well, we shouldn't let your guests sit out here in the cold. You can tell us more about it during dinner later on. Maybe you can regale us with stories from your travels. I know Huan, my brother, would love to hear more about -" At this she turned her face for a moment, looking at him out of the corner of her eye, "Amestris, was it?" She turned her head and walked on, stopped to turn to one of the men that hadn't been outside before, "See to it that you find Alphonse and his companions a nice room." She instructed and the man bowed before walking over to the group. "Come Mei," She shouted, "let these men get settled in. Huan is expecting you in the gardens and you can't keep your fiancé waiting."

Alphonse's eyes widened at the word fiancé and instantly turned to Mei who looked on after Jia instead. She then casted a glance over to Alphonse and nodded, "It is nice to see you again, Alphonse." She ducked her head and turned on her heel to follow Jia inside.

The servants helped pick up Alphonse's things and directed him to follow though the only thing on his mind was the fact that Mei was engaged.