Hey again everyone :) Well i fixed this chapter as well, adding more stuff and just making it longer bc i realized how short it was and it was bothering me. Besides, you can see Artemis and Ed feelings coming out a little earlier :) So review, tell me what you think and i'll keep updating the chapters and i'll post the new ones soon. Ok well talk to you all soon!
I DON'T OWN FMA
Chapter 1: Moving In
14 years later
'I wonder if they need me to help them with the stuff?' Artemis thought as she looks out the window to see her two older brothers moving some furniture into their new apartment that they decided to live in at the mean time while they were in Central. She turns her attention to the door and sees Edward carrying a decorative sofa along with Alphonse on the other side, having a hard time trying to carry it through the entrance. They both finally made it through the door and settle the sofa near where Artemis was standing.
"Damn, I swear that is very tiring! All I want to do is rest." Complains Edward as he drops dead on the couch, face down. Alphonse yawns and sits down on his brother's legs.
The pain jolts through Edward's body when his younger brother sat down on the back of his legs, pushing them down on the sofa. "Al! Why the hell did you go and do that for?" he pushes his brother off his legs and sits down properly on the couch.
Al shrugs his shoulders. "Well you shouldn't just plop your body on the sofa like that. Some people need to sit as well you know." He sits on the opposite side of the couch. Artemis chuckles at their bickering. She strolls on next to them and plops down in between them.
"Let me help you guys out. Looks like you both need it." Artemis offers facing both Ed and Al to see their facial expressions and hear their answer. The two brother's look at each other; Al nods his head, noticeable for Artemis to see.
"Ugh, fine. You can help us." Ed crosses his arms across his chest.
Artemis grins successfully. She knew the guys hate it when she helps them out, but if she weren't around, they would probably be helpless. She places each hand on Ed and Al's knee's to pick herself up. "So, lets get a move on." She walks out the door with the boys following behind her.
"See, wasn't that a lot faster? If you guys would've let me help from the beginning, we probably would have been done a long time ago." Artemis fixes a picture of Trisha on the wall to be perfectly straight. She stares at the frame of their late mother that passed away ten years ago, due to an unknown illness that hit her and there was no way of healing her from it.
Artemis sighs, placing her hand picture of Trisha, "We're doing better now mom. I'm sorry we weren't able to get you back." She tries to hold back the tears that were about to form till Ed wraps his arm around her shoulders.
"She's in a better place now. Remember that." Ed soothes her head, kissing the top of it. Artemis half smiles as she wraps her arm around his waist. She turns her head to face him and sees a twenty-year-old man before her with the same blond hair in a ponytail, black slacks, black boots, white button up shirt with a black trench coat over. She even notices that he grew a foot from the last time she paid attention to his physique.
Artemis couldn't help but blush from staring at Edward, so she turns away before he could even notice her. Edward raises his eyebrows and looks down at her. Once he sees her, he takes a double take. He discovers that she wasn't the same little Ishbalan girl that was stuck out in the cold rain when they first met. She became into a woman. And eighteen-year-old woman because of all the crap that she was put through because of his selfishness when they were kids. He couldn't help but feel guilty by just gazing at her presence. Seeing her long dark brown hair fall down to her mid back, with her tan skin contrasting with her black leather Capri's, brown boots, and a white tank and her black Moto Pu style leather jacket.
Ed shakes his head, trying to lose his attention away from Artemis and onto something else. "I'm hungry? You guys wanna go grab a bight to eat?" he suggests letting go of Artemis and walks over to where Al was sitting.
Al changes his attention from the book he was reading to Ed. He puts his hand on his chin, thinking. Smiling, "Sure. That sounds good, but where can we eat?"
Ed scratches the back of his head, trying to think of a place to eat at. While he was doing so, Artemis looks around their apartment, seeing how vacant it looked. She then comes up with an idea. She slowly paces next to Al and sits down next to him.
"How about I make some stew? For old time's sake?"
Al smiles happily, nodding his head excitedly. Artemis laughs as she stands up and looks over at Ed, who was just smirking at her. She shrugs her shoulder and smiles genuinely at him. She knew what he was thinking. She was doing it for Al because she knew that it would moving in more special since they were war free, homunculus free and violence free. And since Al finally got his body back, after the three of them returned from Shamballa, she really wanted to make him the stew that their mom would make for them all the time.
Artemis claps her hands together, "Well, we should head down to the market to get the ingredients since we have limited supplies." She shows them the empty kitchen with no produce or drinks.
Ed nods his head. "Artemis is right. Lets go now before its gets dark. Al, will you grab the basket?" he pats his little brother on the back.
Al nods. He heads to the hallway closet and grabs the woven basket so they could place all their items in it. He heads back to Artemis and Ed and notices that they were smiling at each other in a lovey dovey way. He cocks his eyebrow from the sight; he coughs to interrupt their moment.
Artemis blinks repeatedly, turning to face Al who was staring at her and Ed. "Oh sorry Al. You ready?" she then notices that her and Ed are only inches apart. She moves back and giggles nervously.
Al rolls his eyes, "Why can't you two just go out and kiss already." He walks pass them, exiting the room.
Artemis and Ed gulp at the same time, blushing at each other's sight. Ed clears his throat and motions his hand to the door, signaling Artemis to go ahead of him.
"Thanks." She walks away, trying to catch up to Al.
Ed sighs tiredly as he closes door behind him.
"Wow that stew was amazing Artemis. Tastes just like mom's." Al compliments as he finishes up his last spoonful of the creamy white stew Artemis made once they all got back to their apartment.
"Yes Artemis it was. Thank you again for making this. Are you sure you didn't want any?" Ed questions while he grabs his bowl and Al's. He stands up from the table and walks over to the sink, placing the ceramic blue bowls in it.
Artemis shrugs her shoulders, "I wasn't really hungry. Excuse me." She retrieves to her room faster than anyone could ask her anything.
Ed looks over at Al confused. "What's her deal? She's the one that wanted to make the damn food to begin with." He pulls a chair next to Al, crossing his leg over the other, leaning back.
Upset, Al hits the back of Ed's head. Ed reacts back and hits his brother back. "What the hell was that for?" he questions Al, as he was also rubbing the back of his head.
Al shakes his head, "You such an idiot, brother. Can't you see that it hurts her to see us eat the meal and enjoy it so much without mom here?"
"Well yeah I know that, but she offered to make it!" Ed angrily sets off on his brother.
Al smacks his head with his hand. "Just go and talk to her. You two always know what to say to each other." He gets up from his seat and walks over to the couch, grabbing his book and starts to read it, leaving Ed by himself at the table.
"Ugh." Ed moves the chair out of the way and heads to Artemis's room. He stands outside the door and knocks on it.
Artemis opens her eyes once she hears the knock at the door. "Come in." she closes her eyes when she hears the door open. She opens them again when she feels someone sits down next to her. She sits up when she recognizes Ed's blond hair from the corner of her eye.
"Hi."
Ed crosses his arms across his chest giving her questionable look. "What's wrong?"
Artemis groans, "Nothing. I'm fine. Honestly. My stomach just hurts a little. I wasn't feeling very hungry anyways." She leans on her hand as it sits on her thigh while she's sitting Indian style.
Ed eyes her concerned by her answer. "Look, if you wanna talk about it you can. I'm here to listen." He sits in a pondering position with his elbows on his knees, waiting for her response.
Artemis shakes her head, "Nah. I'm good. Thanks though." She plays with the end of her tank, twisting it around her index finger, trying to avoid a conversation about their mother start up.
Ed sighs, knowing he wasn't going to be able to get through to her. He ruffles the back of his head and stands up, "Well if you ever want to talk, you know I'm here." He pats Artemis's knee and makes his way to the door.
Feeling guilty, Artemis grabs his hand without thinking. Ed looks back, surprised by her gesture. "Uh," she didn't know what else to say.
"Yes?"
She gathers her words together, "Thanks. Yes, thank you for your concern. I'm just getting used to this new lifestyle of ours. It's kind of over whelming you know?" Ed sits back down on the bed with her. She moves closer to him and places her head on his shoulder.
"I understand. But just don't worry about it. We're in a better place now. Nothing is going to harm us anymore and there is nothing for us to go searching for since Al got his body back and we're together as a family again." Ed comforts Artemis while rubbing her arm along.
Artemis smiles, "Yeah, you're right." She then frowns, hoping that there wasn't going to be any more problems with their new life.
