A/N: Happy Tuesday everyone! And thus, we start in to chapter 1 of the rewrite. This chapter kind of combines the first two chapter of the original fic and changes up a few scenes but nothing too major. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: Long Awaited Customers

By the time sunlight streamed through the cracks in my curtains, I had already been up for an hour, polishing my knives. They lay out across my desk in a perfect row, all different shapes and sizes. I'd started collecting them sense I landed on the other side of the gate. It was something to pass the time that used to be filled by philosopher's stone hunting and being kidnapped.

The polishing had become a morning ritual of sorts to clear my mind of any unwelcome dreams. I cleaned each one with care and arranged them neatly across the desk. First the newest ones, then steadily moving up in age. Finally I cleaned the two oldest, most important blades. My knives from my old life, etched with my transmutation circles.

They were useless here. This world didn't have alchemy. But they were still some of my only trinkets from my old life.

I polished my pocket watch last and lay it out over the desk, wrapping the chain around the outside. Then I sat back in my chair with a sigh.

"Excellent. Perhaps if you're done, you can start your actual day, little human?"

I gritted my teeth together. "Don't call me little."

"I'm not referring to your height. Merely your insignificance."

"Yeah, great," I glared at the ceiling. "If I'm so insignificant then just get out of my head, Truth!"

Oh yes. Important detail about my new life here. Not only had I retained my knives and pocket watch, but I had also picked up an unwelcome leech on the way through the gate. That being Truth. Knower of all and personal pain in my ass.

Apparently Truth decided that not only did he want to stalk my dreams or throw me across dimensions but he also wanted to hang out in my mind, providing less than welcome commentary on my actions and fortune cookie advice. This would have been okay, I guess, if he had some helpful things to say. But mostly… nope. He was just there to be obnoxious and occasionally give philosophy lessons.

"Remind me again why you take the time to hang around in my head," I muttered, standing from my chair and slipping my jacket on.

"I have nothing better to do of course!" Truth giggled creepily. He did that alot.

"Yeah, well you could stalk someone else." I stashed my favorite knives in my belt and slid a few extras into the band around my thigh.

"Well I don't care to. You're interesting enough to entertain me," Truth said. "Also, as I am Truth, I can multi task. I'm doing plenty of other productive things right now. This whole endeavor is really just a—"

"A hobby?" I asked dryly.

"Exactly!"

"Fan. Bloody. Tastic." I sighed. "And why exactly are you so interested in me starting the day?"

"I see it being an interesting day."

"Want to give me anymore to go on?"

"No, not really."

"Great. Then shut up."

"Liz? Are you up?" Gracia called from the stairwell. "Come on down! I made breakfast."

"Coming!" I called, adjusting my jacket. "Just in time, I'm starving."

"You could have gone down earlier then," Truth stated matter of factly.

See this is the problem with talking to myself. It's almost never to myself anymore because Truth comments on everything said. He's incredibly annoying like that.

I stuffed my pocket watch in my pocket, clipping it to my belt before I let my jacket shield it from view. Then I trotted down the stairs.

Gracia smiled as I entered the room and sat down in the chair "How are you this morning, Liz?"

"Dandy." I gave her a thumbs up. "A little tired is all."

"I see." She slid a bowl of colorless porridge in front of me. It was all anyone could really afford these days for breakfast, if they were lucky. "You haven't been sleeping much lately have you?"

I shrugged. "Yeah... I don't sleep too well at night anymore."

A sad understanding smile flitted across her face. As far as everyone else knew I was an amnesiac, with no memory of my previous existence. If I told them I was from another dimension, they'd put me in a padded cell and never let me out again. But the amnesia thing was a good cover story and it got me a lot of sympathy from the neighbors.

"Well," she turned back away from me and proceeded to clean the counters. "If you don't mind helping me tidy up the place later today, I'd be obliged. Oh, and I need some more fruit from the market. We have new customers."

I straightened. "We do?" It had been awhile since the inn had gotten any fresh business. With the tense political situation and economic crisis, not many people felt comfortable travelling. We got a few regulars but new customers were good news. "When did they get in?"

"Late last night. You were already asleep and I didn't want to wake you." She turned back to me, tossing the towel between her hands. "A father and son. And they're busy by the looks of it. They left early this morning."

"Gives me time to clean then." I slid my bowl back. "If you don't mind, I'll take a quick stroll around the neighborhood and get that fruit first before the sun gets much highter."

"No rush," Gracia said. "I appreciate the help, as always."

"Aren't I obligated to help you." I pointed out. "You have let me stay here for two years, free of charge."

"You've earned your stay here Liz." She assured me with a smile. "Don't worry about it."

"Thanks." I smiled, heading for the door. "I won't be long!"

It was just past 9:00 AM when I headed out for the day. The streets were bustling with the usual morning crowd, all chattering over the daily paper or browsing the street vendors. Children ran around playing with their makeshift toys, their squeals of delight echoing through the streets. Times were hard but people still managed to keep positive, be happy, and live their lives. I hadn't been so good at the keeping positive thing lately.

"Good morning Liz" Officer Maes Hughes called from the street corner with his usual wave. "Glad to see you out and about today."

I couldn't help but grin. At least I had Hughes back in this world. He was as friendly as ever, and just as smitten with Gracia as the other Hughes. This one, of course, hadn't worked up the guts to confess yet, but I was working on him.

"Morning officer Hughes." I joined him on the corner. "How's traffic today?"

"Let's see... No riots or brawls" he mused. "No thieves... no crazed people with guns... over all a good day." He smiled. "And how are you doing on this fine morning? Any progress with your memories?"

"Nope." I shook my head. "The amnesia is ever present."

"Ah, well. We're glad to have you in this fine city as long as you'd like to stay" he grinned and patted me on the back. "So uh... how's Gracia doing?"

"She's still single, if that's what you're asking." I smirked. "Jump on the chance Hughes! It won't last forever."

"Hmph" A light blush colored his face. "You should respect your superiors a little more Liz. I'm not insinuating anything! I'm just concerned with her wellbeing as a woman running a business on her own. Besides, she's a close friend."

"Uh huh." I wiggled my eyebrows. "Very close."

"You're impossible." Hughes sighed.

Suddenly, a cry echoed from across the square. "My purse!" The crowds shuffled, as if parting for someone. "My purse. Someone stop him!"

A man broke through the crowd, dashing at top speed, a wild look in his eye. He was so focused on getting to the other side of the square that he didn't even see Hughes. Which of course meant he didn't notice me until I stuck my foot out and tripped him. He went sprawling across the cobble stone.

"Everyone's on hard times right now, man," I said lightly, looking down on him. "Don't make it harder for someone else."

Growling, the man drew a gun from his jacket. "Not a step closer!" The crowds backed away, gasping. I stood my ground, a dark smile on my lips.

"Okay, you want to play?"

I flicked my flicked my jacket aside, drawing one of my knives from my belt. The man fired but I was already running toward him, leaping in the air and kneeing him directly in the nose. He fell back, raising his gun to fire two shots in the air. I caught his hand before he could fire a third. My knife cut deep into his palm and the gun toppled to the ground.

The robber twisted, trying to get up again but I stepped to the side, planting one foot on his back and twisting his arm hard. The move pinned him soundly to the ground.

"Now if you don't mind." I reached down and scooped the purse up with my knife. "I'll be taking that. And you can go on a little walk with Officer Hughes."

The crowds applauded and I struggled not to look at least a little pleased with myself as I stepped away and let Hughes handcuff the delinquent.

"Thanks for the help, Liz." Hughes hauled the man to his feet. "I'd better take this young man for that walk. I'll talk to you later though."

I watched him disappear down the street, a small smile on my face. I had to appreciate the little bouts of excitement. They were so few and far between.

"Ah… excuse me?"

I turned to see a young woman with blonde hair facing me. She gestured to the purse, still hanging on my knife.

"That's, uh… that's mine."

"Oh. Right." I slid the purse off the knife and handed it off. "Here you go."

"Thank you." She bowed her head, a gracious smile on her face. "I would have been lost without that money. I can't thank you enough."

"Ah, it was nothing," I said, running a hand through my hair. A short pain jolted through my abdomen and I cringed, cupping one hand over my chest. Shit. I overexerted myself again, didn't I?

"Are you okay?" the young woman asked, looking concerned.

"Yeah, yeah." I nodded. "Nothing to worry about. Muscle spasm, that's all."

She bought the explanation, fortunately, and moved on with her day. I leaned against the wall of the bakery as soon as she was out of sight.

With all my other souvenirs, I had picked up one more unwanted mark from back home. A long scar across my abdomen, the mark of where a certain homunculus had stabbed me. Even after all this time, it still hurt, crippling me if I ever tried to work too much. It cut my stamina in half and reminded me constantly of the day when I left my home.

I kicked a loose stone, watching it skid across the ground as I headed for the market. So much for a walk. My old wound already wanted me to wrap up my errands and turn in.

Just another day in the life of a pretend amnesiac, I guess.

When I got back to the inn, I placed the groceries on the counter and immediately set about cleaning the place like Ms. Gracia had asked. She'd left clean sheets on the table for our new guests so I decided to start with there room. Hopefully they wouldn't be back yet and I wouldn't be in the way.

I checked out the two rooms they had rented, dutifully I running through a check list, making sure every necessity was there. The sheets were a bit too small for the beds, but nothing that a little pulling and curse words couldn't fix. I at last wrestled the last corner on, falling with a thud onto my butt from the effort. Another short pang sliced through my chest and I leaned back against the bed, breathing carefully.

Damn scar. Can't I even make a bed without you hating me?

From my place on the floor, my gaze caught and open suitcase on the other side of the room. It was an odd shape and… was it just me or was there an arm inside?

I crawled over to the suitcase, brow furrowed. Sure enough, it was an arm. A fake arm. And it had a fake leg to go with it. Was this guy some kind of doctor?

I hesitantly grabbed one of the prosthetic arms, studying it. It looked like the socket was designed to connect to something. Was it possible that there was automail here too? Or did this stuff work in a different way? I must've looked like an idiot the way I stared blankly at the prosthetic, trying in vain to understand them. I never had actually been able to understand Winry's automail rants, so this stuff didn't make much sense to me either.

I picked up the leg now, turning it in my hand. It was a left leg. And the arm… it was for the right side. My throat tightened and I shook my head, carefully returning the prosthetic limbs to their case. No. I was being stupid.

"I've always been a sucker for nostalga." I murmured to myself, a small smile playing over my face. "Still trying to hold on to those little bits of my old life in Amestris..."

"It's only natural," Truth commented.

"Easy for you to say" I said. "It might be natural... but it's also painful."

"But would you really want to lose those memories if it meant getting rid of the pain?"

I thought for a long moment. "No…I just want the pain gone..."

"Aw, but that isn't a proper exchange is it little al-chem-ist" Truth accentuated each syllable in the word. "Either give up memories to get rid of the pain or keep them in deal with it. That keeps the balance. That is equivalency.

"Right..." I muttered. "Equivalency sucks."

Truth chuckled.

I sighed and rose to my feet, ready to go back down and help Gracia when I noticed a little pouch sitting on the desk that I hadn't noticed before. I curiously strode over and dumped the contents onto the desk.

It took me a minute to register what clattered onto the desk. A silver watch, the same size and shade as mine. Slowly, with a trembling hand, I lifted the watch. A lion, the lion the Amestris, was engraved on the other side.

This was…

The door swung open and I dropped the watch in surprise.

"Hey!" a voice said. "What are you doing, going through my stuff?"

I didn't answer. My heart was in my throat. Was that… Could it be…

"Did you hear me?" Uneven footsteps, the kind that came from having one fake leg, approached me from across the room. "I said—"

I turned and his voice died on his lips. He stood open mouthed staring at me and I stared right back, my expression mirroring his.

"L-Liz," he whispered. "Please tell me… Is it really you?"

And in that moment, my heart almost floated right out of my chest from sheer joy.

"Edward."

A/N: Me? Cliffhangers? In what universe :) If you remember from the last fic, it will take a bit for Envy to show up but at least you have Edward for now!

As always, thank you for your readership and reviews. If you want to read my original stuff, remember my book HOUR OF MISCHIEF is coming out on September 7th. Look it up on Amazon to preorder the ebook, or wait to order the print edition!

Have a lovely week!