A/N: Here's the sequel, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA (or Ed, sadly, but I have an Ed plushie if that counts for anything)

Chapter One:

Roy and the others had left for Central to deal with Tanya, and I had decided to remain in Ed's home town, though he seemed to be taking extra care to avoid me since my question.

I could have pushed him to answer, but I decided to drop it. Instead, I would go straight to her.

I wasn't really sure what she thought of me. I had only been here a short time, and was more focused on my work than her. I guess I would find out.

I found her and Ed in her workshop, she was tuning his automail.

She looked up when I came in and smiled. "Hey," she said.

"Hey." I gave her a smile. I glanced at Ed to see him avoiding my gaze.

"Well, there you go, Ed," she said, after a bit more tuning to his automail.

"Thanks, Winry," he said, and he got up and left.

I stood there silently for a moment, unsure of how to continue.

"Thank you. For helping Al, that is," she finally said, not looking up from her workbench.

"Oh, um, no problem," I replied.

"I know why you're here," she said. "It's about Ed, isn't it?" She turned and faced me.

I hesitated, then said, "I don't think it matters. Not to him, anyways. He seems oblivious to everything."

"He's been busy," she said. "There are more important things than love in life."

"But you do love him?" I asked.

She was silent.

I decided to leave it at that. I turned and headed towards the door.

Her voice suddenly cut through the air just as my hand was about to turn the. "You think you can just waltz into my house and just take him? Just like that? You think that just because you saved his younger brother he'll be head over heels for you?"

"I don't plan things out like that," I replied. Then I looked over my shoulder directly at her. "But it certainly helps." I gave her a tight smile, and then turned to leave.

I wanted to go talk to Ed, but decided against it. Instead, I wandered away from the house, letting my feet guide me. Without meaning to, I ended up at their old house.

"Hey," a voice said behind me, causing me to jump.

I turned to see Al standing there. "Hey, Al."

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I'm not really sure, I just kind of ended up here," I said. "What are you doing here?"

"I guess I just wanted to talk," he said, but it looked like he had more to say.

"Something's bothering you," I observed. "What is it?"

He paused. "It's… well, I don't know, really. It all just seems to easy, you know?"

"Ed's skilled, I guess," I said, trying to reassure him, but, truth be told, I agreed with him.

"Yeah, I know he is, but even so, a lot of it's luck, and if this woman created a homunculus, then that means she's skilled, too."

I thought about it. "Hey, Al, how about we check out that cave again." He looked at me, and I thought I saw a bit of excitement, but it was quickly covered up with fear. "Actually, you go back home, I'll check it out." I could tell he wanted to protest, but he finally nodded and headed back to the Rockbell's house.

I made my way back to the cave where we fought with Tanya. I looked around before entering, suddenly feeling extremely nervous. I took a deep breath, thankful I decided to wear shorts instead of a skirt. I traced my steps back to the cavern where I fought Tanya. Everything had been cleared out once my brother and his team had looked around, and they said they didn't find anything suspicious, but still… something didn't feel right. I walked towards the center, sensing something in the cave, but I wasn't sure what. Could it just be paranoia?

I sighed, it had to be. What was I thinking? There's nothing down here.

I turned to leave and came face to face with a auburn haired, brown eyed woman. I cried out in surprise and stumbled back a few steps.

"Wh-who are you?" I asked.

"Me? I'm your worst nightmare," she said.

"Do you - er, well, did you work for Tanya?" I asked, getting my balance back.

"Do I look like a follower?" She asked. "Stupid girl, Tanya works for me."

"Not anymore she doesn't," I said. "She's in Central, in prison."

"And I'm counting down the seconds until she breaks out," the girl said.

Well, shit, I thought to myself. That doesn't sound good. "So, what now? You capture me? Kill me? What?"

"I let you go," she said, turning to leave.

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me," she said. "I can't wait to see what you do about this. I'll be watching you." She left the cavern, and she left me standing there, confused and a bit scared.

After a moment, I snapped out of my stupor and ran as fast as I could out of the cave and back to the Rockbell's house.

I burst in on them just sitting down for dinner.

"We have trouble!" I said.

"What kind of trouble?" Ed asked, looking worried.

I glanced at Al, who looked at me, and I knew he knew what I was about to say. Well, the general gist of it. I knew I could hide this from him forever.

I took a deep breath and told them about the woman I met.

"Why were you even down there anyways?" Ed asked.

"I was following a hunch," I replied. "Even you have to admit that Tanya went down way to easily."

Ed didn't respond, but I knew he agreed with me.

I took a deep breath and then reluctantly said, "Ed, I need to leave. I need to warn my brother and help him in any way I can." I caught a glance at Winry from the corner of my eye and she looked almost happy.

"I'm coming, too," he said. Instantly the smile faded from her face.

"Ed, no, it's too dangerous," she said.

"Exactly, Tea isn't an alchemist, I mean, she sort of is, but she needs help," he said.

"Yeah, can't her brother do that, though?" She asked. "Besides, you already quit, you don't owe the State anything." She sounded close to tears, and, honestly, I couldn't blamer her.

"You don't have to do this, Ed." I didn't want to turn away his help because I knew I would need it, but I still didn't want him to feel obligated.

"I know, but you've already done so much to help. Besides, I'm already kind of involved, I'm not about to back out until this whole thing is done with."

I smiled at him. "Thanks."

"I'm coming, too," Winry said. "Ed needs his automail mechanic there with him."

"In that case, I'm coming, too!" Al said, standing up.

Simultaneously, Winry, Ed, Pinako, and I shouted, "No!"

"But-"

"No," Pinako said. "You're much too young."

"I'm not about to lose you again," Ed said. Then he looked at me and Winry. "We leave first thing in the morning.

A/N: I'm sure I've had longer chapters, but it felt like a good stopping point. Hope you liked it! I'll try to get the next chapter up ASAP! Again, sorry if it's too short.