Thank you so much for the reviews to Orange Singer, Hikaru, DemonRaily and Shigur3!

Orange Singer: Thank you! I'm glad you really love it! I'd love to see your own story too. Glad you felt she went with the time period. And I decided not to have her speak much at the beginning, due to fright and being very weak. She talks more in this chapter once she feels better and see's Ed, her rescuer.

Hikaru: Thank you so much! I am really glad you have liked this story so far, and liked the idea. I was very happy with your comment because you summarized why I wrote this story in the first place, both dealing with the discrimination of that time and even now, and Edward's virtuous character who can't stand seeing such injustice. I really like that side of Ed, so I really wanted to write about it!

DemonRaily: Thank you, glad you think it is sweet! =D

Shigur3: Thank you! I'm glad you like the way I portray Ed's soft side. Heehee, wait Ed HAS a soft side? Heehee. J.K. Or am I? XD!

Chapter Two

Golden Hearts

For the whole night, Edward stayed by the girl's side, sitting on a chair next to her bed. He didn't want to leave her all on her own. Does she have any parents left? Is she on her own? He could relate. He had lost so much. His family, his friends. Now he was part of this world, separated from them all. He couldn't shake off his disgust at such evil. It was like the Ishbalans all over again. Many he had met had been innocent, had never done anything wrong, but had still been feared and hated for old prejudices. It frustrated him to no end. He wondered what the girl's name was. She was still sleeping, but he couldn't leave her. He couldn't even sleep himself. He was tired, but with all the thoughts in his mind, he knew he'd never be sleeping tonight.

He looked out the window, thinking about his own world. His own home. And a thought came to him. If I had been in my own world, would anyone have been there to rescue her? Would she have died, if I hadn't come?

The idea was horrible to think about. If he hadn't been here in this world, she could have died. What if no one had come to help her? It was always hard to believe how many people lived in the world, in this one and his. So many lives. So many different people living in different places in different situations.

The thought was painful to consider, so he cast it from his mind. You could drive yourself insane thinking of all the what if's of life. He looked out the window. It was still dark outside, early morning. He heard the sound of the blankets moving, and turned to see the young girl blinking in confusion at her surroundings, she gave a small whimper of fear becoming tense, shaking slightly, obviously confused at where she was.

"Hey there," Edward said softly hoping to calm her, "It's alright, your safe here. I took you here so you could rest and get help. How are you feeling?"

She looked up in surprise. She relaxed when she heard his voice. She still hadn't spoken a word, and Edward was beginning to wonder if she could speak until she spoke at last.

"Thank you.. For before. Why did you help me? I'm a Gypsy like they said.." Her youthful voice was soft and held an almost dream-like quality to it. He was relieved she had spoken, and she looked better.

"That doesn't matter to me," Edward said at once, "I judge by the kind of person someone is, nothing else."

The girl looked surprised by his words, but smiled. "Thank you. My name's Lupa. What's your name?"

Edward was glad to hear the girl was well enough to talk more. "Edward, and Lupa is a beautiful name."

She smiled at him, "Thank you. I like the name Edward too."

She shifted in the bed, looking at her bandaged shoulder. She tried to move herself up, and gave a small cry of pain.

"Take it easy," Edward cautioned her, gentling pushing her back, "You've been hurt and need to rest a little." He hesitated. He wanted to ask about her family. Did she have any family? If she did, he needed to know so they could contact them and bring her home.

"If you don't mind me asking, where is your home? Your family must be worried about you.."

He regretted saying it, the look in her eyes answering his feared answer.

"My parents died a year ago..killed by a group of people, because they were Gypsy.." Tears filled her eyes, but she kept speaking. "When I got home I found them..and a man was waiting for me. He caught me and told me that since my parents were dead, I was his now." Her voice shook a little as she recalled this, and Edward could only imagine, first losing her parents in such a horrible way, then to be taken by a stranger..he could barely control the burning anger in his chest at hearing her words.

"I was practically his slave," she continued. "He made me do everything for him.. And hurt me if I didn't do what he wanted right. That's where the bruises came from. Edward realized in horror. He hit her... The thought brought him so much agony. He remembered what had happened to Rose.. How could anyone do such evil things? "I'd been with him for two months before I finally managed to run away. I was on my own for two days, and when I came here, I ran into those guys. As soon as they realized I was a Gypsy, they cornered me. I thought I was going to die." Tears were falling freely down her face now. "That's when you came. I thought you would join them at first. I couldn't believe it when you kept them away from me..When you helped me, I felt so safe. The first time in awhile."

Edward placed his hand on hers reassuringly, happy he was able to make her feel safe. She closed her eyes, sniffed, and said sadly, "It's so hard. People hate me without knowing me. They always say, "You can't trust a Gypsy, they'll steal your wallets, they are thieves, parasites." She sniffed again, rubbing her eyes. "No other children wanted to be friends with me. Some would be nice, but their parents would start to tell them all the stories about how we couldn't be trusted, and they kept their distance. I used to think I'd become used to it, hearing it all the time, but I never have. People can usually tell I'm a Gypsy by the way I look, so I can't escape it."

It pained him hearing her say things that were so wrong. So unfair. How could people act like this? What made humans into such cruel beings? What motivated them? How could you act like this, and feel no remorse? How could that man who had taken her treat her so cruelly? How could anyone kill someone because they were Gypsy? What did that have to do with anything? He had heard all the bullshit from people about Germany's master race, how could one race be better then another? Wasn't everyone equal? He doubted he'd ever understand. He had a feeling Lupa really wanted someone to talk to, which was why she had opened up to him. He was glad she felt she could talk to him. He wanted to help her, to take her pain away.

He looked her directly in the eyes as he spoke.

"I know it's unfair, but don't let them get to you. I know your not a bad person. It's they who are. You have a good heart. Don't ever let what they say to you get to you, never believe it. Be proud of who you are. Can you do that for me?" Lupa sniffed and nodded. "Yes. I feel good to finally tell someone. Your so kind. I wish there was more people like you."

"There are a lot of good people," Edward said softly, thinking of his brother, his mother, of Winry, of Rose, of Roy, his teacher Izumi, his Aunt Pinako, Hughes, Armstrong, Hawkeye, Maria, and so many others. It was a terrible thing this poor child had seen so many bad people in her short life. She'd lost her parents too, the poor girl. He'd experienced enough pain himself. It was always a harsh reality check when you learned how many other people suffered too. Our worlds may be different, but they are also very much the same. People live the same way, have hopes, have dreams, and there are the same injustices. We can be blind to that sometimes, so wrapped up in our own lives.

"I have a feeling there are," she said giving a small smile. She wasn't crying anymore, having rubbed the last tears from her eyes. She gave a small moan, "I still feel kind of dizzy.."

"You should go back to sleep." Edward told her, "Your exhausted. It won't help you any to stay up much longer." As he looked at her, he imagined she had to be thirsty.

"Would you like me to bring you a glass of water first? Or anything to eat?"

"Yes just water please," Lupa said, "Thank you."

"I'll be right back," he told her, and headed back downstairs. A note was lying on the kitchen table.

If you need anything, don't hesitate to wake me up. Feel free to any snacks and drinks.

-Gracia

Edward took the water and poured Lupa a cup grateful for Gracia's kindness. He then headed back upstairs.

"You should try and sit up when you drink, but take it slow," he advised her.

Lupa moved herself up slowly, being careful of how she moved her bandaged shoulder. She took the glass from him and drank eagerly. She handed it back to him when she was done.

"Thanks, that tasted so good. I needed that."

"Good. Now you should rest. You can have a nice breakfast when you wake up. I'll stay with you the rest of the night. I won't leave you."

Lupa smiled at him. "I don't want to keep you up.."

"I'm not so tired. Close your eyes and rest. Gracia, whom I've brought you to, she used to be a nurse you know, will be furious with me if I keep you up the rest of the night while you should be resting. "

Lupa nodded, "I'm still so sleepy. What will happen to me? I can't stay here forever can I? I'm scared that man will come back for me.."

"Don't worry about any of that. You can stay here as long as you need to, and if that ba- if that man ever comes back I won't let him get near you," Edward had almost called the man a bastard but stopped himself from swearing in front of her. "Your perfectly safe here, I promise you. I'll protect you. Now, you should sleep."

"Thank you, for saving me and listening," Lupa said softly, "I feel safe with you here."

Edward smiled at her and gently stroked her hair. He paused for a moment, an idea coming to his mind.

"If you'd like, I'll sing you something to help you sleep."

He was surprised by saying that, because Edward doubted he had a singing talent. Before he started, noticing the blankets weren't covering her completely, he placed them back on top of her and tucked them in. She giggled as he did, and looked at him warmly as she lay back down lying on her side and on her good shoulder. "You'll sing for me? My parents used to sing to me.."

Edward felt compelled too. He didn't know why, maybe some brotherly or fatherly instinct made him want to make her feel as safe as possible. He remembered how safe his mother's singing had made him feel when he was younger soothing him and Al to sleep. Remembering the songs his mother had once sung for him and Al, he softly sang, surprising himself by remembering every word. He saw Lupa close her eyes, and when she had drifted off and her breathing became even, he stopped. Wonder how Al would react if he saw me sing! He wondered bringing a grin to his face. Glad that he could help her, he closed his eyes, hoping he could help this girl any way he could. Opening his eyes and looking over at her, he couldn't help but be reminded of Nina when he looked at her. If Nina was alive, I wonder what she'd be like? She'd be around Lupa's age.. He shook the memory from his mind. It was a painful one. He didn't know if he believed in heaven or anything like that, but he hoped wherever she was, and Alexander too, they were happy. I'll do for her what I couldn't do for Nina. I'll keep her safe.

Edward was happy he could help Lupa. In spite of how much he missed his own world, he was happy he'd been able to help her in hers.

Thanks so much for reading Chapter Two of my story, and I hope you liked it and I hoped I stayed true to Edward's character. And if your wondering why I decided to have Edward sing, well, Vic Mignogna, his voice actor, has a beautiful singing voice and in the songs I've listened to he sounds like Ed! So I can very much so see Edward singing very beautifully and very relaxing. Come on, who wouldn't want Ed to sing you to sleep? I also wanted Lupa to remind him of Nina. I really do believe Edward is the kind of caring person who would want to help her and bond with her. We've seen times when Ed has helped others so I have no doubt he would help her. Not only this, when you read this story, consider how wrong it is to treat someone without even knowing who they are. It is who we are that really matters, not our race, not our background, not our religion and so on. The kind of person we are is what really matters. I also wanted Ed to reflect, as he did at the beginning, what would have happened if he was not there. He was lucky to find her in time. It is a question we may often feel. What if we hadn't been there? I hope this story gives you something to think about. And hopefully you like protective caring Ed like I do and can picture Edward with Lupa. An eighteen-year-old guy who cares for others, will help the innocent, who is protective, .. Well there's nothing hotter then that.

The name of the young Roma girl is Lupa (and she is eleven years old), and Lupa means wolf. I chose the name Lupa not only because I love wolves, but because wolves have often been surrounded by folklore and mythology as a shadowy, half-demonic beast and cunning predator. As a result wolves have been mercilessly hunted down in an attempt to wipe out the entire species. This fear brings irrational feelings. When we truly look a wolf, we see an animal much like ourselves, social animals. To judge a wolf, is as bad as judging a human being. When we really look, we see these fears and prejudices hold little fact, as they do for the fear of the Roma and Gypsy people, and all who are treated unfairly. What makes a good person is looking beyond such believes and judging on who someone is as a person.

Thank you once again! I really appreciate you taking the time to read this story. A question, would you want Ed to rescue you? ^^