Thanks everyone for your reviews! I'm glad that you all like it so far. All of your questions will be answered in this chapter! Enjoy. =]

Chapter Two:
Picking Up the Pieces
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Edward did not know how long he had been walking, the past few days were just a blur to him. The minute he awoke and realized that he was back in Amestris, he had not stopped moving, whether he was traveling by car, train, or walking, he did not stop, not to rest, not even to eat. He had to get back to Rizenbul. All he could see was her face and he was aching to be able to finally hold her and hear her voice. After five years. He could finally see the lights of the Rockbell home, he could feel the warmth pouring out of the old two story house, even being half a mile away. His prosthetic leg was about to give and each step caused the piece of junk to grind into what was left of his actual leg. He cursed under his breath at the pain. He was exhausted.

"BROTHER!"

Ed's head jolted up from looking down at his leg to see his younger brother and Den running towards him. A weary smile crept across his face. Al nearly tackled Ed to the ground with his sudden embrace, knocking him of balance. It was pouring now and Den was slinging mud all over them, running around them in circles, and barking happily.

"Brother...I can't believe it...finally. Welcome home!"

Edward wrapped his arms around his brother, "Thanks, Al." he whispered.
___

"What the hell is Den barking at?" Winry asked annoyed. The barking had broken their concentration. Pinako simply shrugged and continued working.

"I'm beat. I need a break anyway." Winry sighed. She removed the pink bandanna from her head and wiped away the beads of sweat from her forehead, then tossed it onto the work bench. She got a glass of water and went over to the window that looked out into the front yard. It started to rain. She thought she saw Al and Den out in the road, so she squinted her eyes to try and make out the figures in the dark. Her glass fell to the floor and shattered. She flung the front door open.

"Granny, come quick!" she yelled into the house from the doorway. She then sprinted over to where Al, Ed, and Den were.

Ed lifted his head from Al's shoulder when he heard someone coming and gasped. There she was. It was as if his heart was about to explode, her long, blonde hair was in a messy bun and she was wearing her usual work clothes: overalls hanging off her shoulders and her black tube top. She no longer looked like the innocent seventeen year old that he daydreamed about. No, she now a woman as he was now a man. She was the most beautiful woman that Edward Elric had ever seen. His heart was practically doing back flips in his chest. Realizing that his mouth was still hanging open, he collected himself and slowly made his way toward Winry. She was drenched from the rain, but Ed could tell she was crying. He always made her cry, so he was quite familiar with the look. Winry's hand was on her chest, over her heart as if she could feel the missing pieces coming back into place the closer Ed came.

He made his way to her and gently cupped the side of her face with his flesh hand. She continued looking into his amber eyes, trying not to blink, afraid that this was a dream, and if she blinked, he would disappear. He brought his prosthetic arm up and placed his other hand on the opposite cheek, holding it as if it were the most delicate thing in the world, like her face would break in his hands if he held it too tight. Edward then pulled her face to his and pressed his lips firmly against her's for their first kiss. Winry immediately threw her arms around his neck and pressed her lips harder onto his. Ed moved his arms down and wrapped them around her small waist and then lowered them down right under her bottom on her upper thighs, he squeezed her as he lifted her up, her legs wrapped tight around his lower back as if she was afraid he would break away and leave. He licked her bottom lip, wanting to deepen the kiss and she opened her mouth, begging for him to come in. He tasted every inch of her mouth, not leaving a single corner out. Their tounges wrestled as Ed squeezed Winry closer, she gasped for air and looked into Ed's eyes and he into hers.

"Ed..." she started crying again and buried her face in his left shoulder. She could not believe that he was here. He was finally home. She calmed herself down and lifted her head to look into his eyes once more. His eyes were like a drug, they just kept pulling her back into them, all she could do was stare. He softly smiled at her, placed his flesh hand on the back of her head and brought it to his right shoulder. She laid her head down, hiccuping every few seconds from sobbing moments earlier. He began stroking her hair and tracing his fingers on her back. She hadn't even heard him speak and she could already tell that he was a completely different person, she couldn't picture the seventeen year old Ed holding her like this. Winry felt so safe in his arms, she didn't have a care in the world. They stayed like that for a few minutes just taking each other in. They were both shivering at this point, but neither of them dared to move.

"Well are you gonna stay out there all night? Get in here you two before you catch pneumonia!" Pinako yelled from the front porch. She couldn't hide her grin. Al was laughing by her side. He and Den started heading back to the front porch when Ed saw Winry, he knew they would be out there for a while and he didn't want to be the one that got sick. Winry blushed when she saw her grandma and Al laughing from the front porch, Ed sighed as he put her down.

"Let's go." she laughed looking over at Ed. He looked like a different boy, alright,...scratch that, he looked like a twenty two year old man. Edward was towering over Winry by at least four or five inches, his blonde hair longer and pulled back into a loose ponytail, his face showed signs of stress and fatigue. Winry's heart broke at the sight of him, she knew he had a rough journey, but at the same time, she was falling head over heels all over again. He looked so...grown up. Her heart seemed to have skipped a beat as he grabbed her hand, snapping her back into reality.

"Come on, Win." he pulled her close and laced his fingers with hers and they walked slowly to the front porch. Ed was limping and Winry knew it was from that damned German excuse for a leg that he was wearing. She frowned when she saw what it was doing to the flesh he had left on his upper thigh.

"How unprofessional." she muttered to herself and squeezed Ed's hand as they made it to the steps.

Ed collapsed on the couch and Winry ran to get a warm wash cloth to try and clean him up a little, he was covered in mud and blood. He kicked off his boots and took his socks off. She helped him take his shirt and pants off which were soaked from the rain. His shoulders were more broad and his muscles were defined even more than they were when they were teenagers. He looked amazing, despite his injuries. She cringed at the condition he was in. He had gashes up and down his arms and his chest and bruises all over his whole body, his perfect body.

"Edward...what happened to you?" she asked, gently wiping some mud off his face and looking into his eyes. He turned and looked away, she knew that he didn't want to talk about it, he wasn't ready. She frowned, but understood and started tinkering with the prosthetic leg.

"So how long did that automail last you?"

"About a year." he sighed. "I started walking funny half a year later though. I guess I grew an inch or two and it threw the entire balance of the leg off. It drove me crazy. My arm lasted about three years cause it didn't bother me as much to have one arm longer than the other. I wanted to keep them as long as I could since it was the only piece of you that I had left with me besides memories." he trailed off and looked at Winry who was looking up at him with tears in her eyes. He stared back at her with the softest look on his face. Whatever happened to him, it certainly did not break him. Next to Al, Edward Elric was the strongest person she knew. He reached his flesh hand up again to cup her face. She took his hand in hers and gently kissed the back of it and continued cleaning the cuts, all the while Ed not taking his eyes off of her.

"I think we should get those fake limbs off of you now, Edward." Pinako said lifting up his leg and placing in on the footrest. " If we keep this leg on any longer and you continue walking on it you might get an infection with the rusty metal rubbing against the gashes it created on your thigh, that's the last thing we need right now."

"Go right ahead, Auntie." Ed said, putting his arms behind his head as if he were relaxed. "I've been dying to get these things taken off the day they were put on."

"Okay then, Winry? You get his arm. We'll do this at the same time if we can."

"Alright, I'm ready." Winry said when she found where to disconnect his arm and got a firm grip on it.

"One...two...three!" Pinkao said as she and Winry pulled the prostetic limbs off. He clenched his teeth and his fist, but did not make a noise. The pain subsided and he relaxed again.

"Here, brother." Al offered him some asprin and a glass of water. Ed smiled at him and took the medicine and a sip of water.

"I'm gonna change my clothes and then go get a warm bath started for you, Ed." Winry said standing up. "Al, can you help him get up the stairs when it's ready? It'll be ready in about five minutes."

"Of course." Al placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. She smiled at them and turned to go up the stairs. She got a towel and a few wash cloths out of the hall closet and headed into the bathroom, placing them on the table. She started the water and quickly ran into her room to change into some sweats and a tank top. Pinako was back in the shop, she threw the prosthetic limbs in the "scrap metal" pile and started going over Ed's new arm and leg.

"How are you doing, brother?" Al asked concerned.

"I'm fine, just a little tired." he answered. He was still looking up the stairs, wishing Winry didn't leave him so soon. Even if they were a few rooms apart, he was anxious to hold her and kiss her again. Al laughed at his brother and stood up.

"See?"

"See what?" Ed said jerking his head back and turning a slight shade of pink. He knew what Al was getting at.

"I told you she loves you, Ed. She has for a long time now, I think almost as long as you've loved her." Al said offering his hand to help his brother up.

"Thank you for staying here with her, Al." he said, reaching his arm out to Al and pulling against his weight. Al placed his brother's flesh arm around his neck and they began making their way toward the steps.

"I'm glad that I could help, she is my best friend, too after all." Al said, he then looked over at Ed, "Are you going to tell her? About what happened? You did come here from Germany, right?"

"Yea."

"She really cares about you, brother. It's hurting her to see you like this. She knows you aren't going to tell her everything right away, but make sure you tell her."

"I know."

"Alright." Al said, looking over at his brother again. Al looked into Ed's eyes and then back down at the floor, he frowned. Ed's eyes alone showed more grief and pain than anyone's in the house put together.

"Here, Al." Winry said reaching her arms out for Ed. "I'll take it from here if you don't mind. You go get into some dry clothes and relax, I'll call you when I need help getting him back downstairs."

Al let go of Ed's wrist and steadied him as Ed wrapped his arm around Winry's neck and placed his hand on her small shoulder. Ed mouthed the words "Thank you." to his brother and Al nodded and smiled. He turned and headed down the hallway then back down the stairs.

"Winry I can hop over to the tub if I'm too heavy, I don't want you to strain your back or anything." Ed offered.

"Don't be ridiculous." she shook her head. They turned away from the doorway and faced the tub, it was about five feet away from them. She grabbed Ed's wrist with one hand and wrapped her arm around his waist with the other and started moving, he was pretty heavy, but Winry didn't care. They made their way to the tub and she slowly helped lower him down into the water. He grit his teeth as the warm water came in contact with his open wounds, but quickly felt relief as he got used to the temperature and rested his head against the back of the bath tub.

"I can leave if you want to take those off." Winry chuckled pointing at Ed's boxers.

"Nah, I don't mind leaving them on. Just stay in here with me, please?" he said looking up at Winry with those sunset eyes. How could she say no to a face like that?

"Okay." she smiled as she sat on the edge of the tub. He laid there for a few minutes without moving, as if he was letting the warm water soak away his grief. Winry was frowning down at him, seeing him like this was killing her. What happened to him anyway?

"Hey, Ed?"

"Hm?" he said with his eyes still closed and his head resting on the tub.

"I know you probably don't want to talk about it." He looked up at her. "But, when you're ready, if you want, you can talk to be about anything. I know you'll probably go to Al first, but I just want you to know that I'm here." Winry softly said, looking down and clenching her fist on her lap. "It's so hard seeing you like this. I just want to help you and I want you to be happy again."

Ed sighed and sat up to take Winry's hand in his. "I will talk to you, Winry, I just need some time." he said looking up at her, she opened her eyes and looked down at him, surprised at his words. She didn't expect that answer, she was so used to being left in the dark by Ed and Al. "And I am happy," he continued, squeezing her hand a little tighter. "I don't think anyone could be as happy as I am right now. I knew that when I saw you again, I wouldn't be able to hold myself back from kissing you and I was worried that you would get mad and slap me silly." he laughed. Winry softly smiled and began rubbing the top of his hand with her other hand. "I'm the happiest I've ever been in my entire life because you kissed me back."

Winry blushed at his words. "I feel the same way though, I thought you'd think I was crazy if I started kissing you." she looked at Ed, "I'm happy you kissed me back." she smiled, reaching to his ponytail and taking the rubberband out. "Your hair has gotten so long." she said as she started running her fingers through his blonde hair. Ed nearly melted from her touch. What was it about Winry that drove him this crazy? Well that was a stupid question, he told himself. He knew that absolutely everything about Winry Rockbell drove him insane. He had wanted her for years, but knew it was a risk for her to be caught up in a relationship with him. He laid his head on her lap and nearly fell asleep until he heard Den barking downstairs and Pinako telling him to 'knock it off'. They laughed at the old woman and Ed reached up and turned the water on to start rinsing his hair out. He washed his hair, body, and Winry helped him wash his back. She took the towel from the bathroom counter and handed it to Ed after she helped him stand up in the tub, she helped him hop out and called for Al. He ran up the stairs and helped his brother get dressed in his room and then helped Ed make his way downstairs to the shop. Pinako had already taken Ed's new measurements after they removed the prosthetics and made quick adjustments to Winry's close estimates. He sat down in the chair, awaiting the procedure.

"Ugh, I hate this crap." he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I know you do, but shouldn't you be used to it by now? Don't be a wimp, Edward. What are you? Twenty two now?" Pinako joked.

"Hahaha...old woman. I'd like to see you sit here and take this shit, you'd pee your pants!" Ed exclaimed, shaking his fist.

"You're just as bratty and pissy as you were when you were a teenager! You haven't grown up a bit."

"You're just as old and bitchy as you've always been, you're the one who hasn't changed, you old hag!" Ed bolted up from his chair, shaking his fist yet again at the small woman, forgetting that he only had one leg and toppled to the ground with a loud 'Harumphh!' Pinako smirked and casually walked over to the bench to look over the new arm and leg one last time as if nothing happened.

"Edward, what are you doing on the floor?" Winry walked into the shop. She looked at Ed, then her grandmother, and then back at Ed again. They were glaring at each other. "I see." Winry sighed monotonously, shaking her head and bringing her palm to her forehead.

"She started it!" Ed yelled from the floor, pointing at Pinako, and struggling to get up. Winry laugh and helped him back into the chair. Pinako came over with the new leg and Winry went over to the bench to get the arm. Al came back into the room and sat in a chair off to the side. Winry and Pinako positioned the automail in front of their proper sockets, ready for connection.

"Alright, Ed, ready?" Winry asked.

"Yep." he let out a long and loud sigh.

"One...two...three!" she counted down and the pain came. Ed grabbed his pant leg and squeezed to counter the shock the nerves were taking from the connection. Winry frowned and took his hand, stroking it lightly as he sat there breathing heavily. Al ran to the kitchen to grab some more asprin and Pinako made a few more adjustments and then went over both appendages one last time. Satisfied with their work, she picked up her pipe from the work bench and headed out of the shop for a smoke.

"She's a fucking chimney." Ed snorted. Winry laughed and Al came back into the room with the medicine. "Thanks, Al." Ed said, taking the two pills and the small cup of water from his brother. "I think I'm ready for bed, I can't remember the last time I slept."

"Yea, you definitely need some rest." Winry agreed, sitting down by Ed. "Do you want me to make you some hot soup or some tea? When was the last time you ate something?" she asked worriedly.

"To be honest, I don't know. I don't think I've eaten since I've gotten back here. I was just ready to be home and to see you guys again. I was too anxious to eat."

"Ed, you need to eat. I'm gonna make you some soup and then you can go to bed, alright?" she stood up and began taking her gloves off.

"Yea, that does sound pretty good." he said, placing a hand on his growling belly. "Thank you, Winry." He looked at her and smiled, then grabbed her arm and brought her down to him for a warm hug. She closed her eyes and smiled.

"You're welcome, Ed." she whispered in his ear, then she brought her lips even closer and softly said, "I would do anything for you." His heart jumped and he squeezed her, then let her go and watched her walk out the door into the kitchen.

Al was bright red and giggling to himself, trying not to burst out laughing. He wasn't making fun, he was just so happy to finally see his brother and Winry together. Ed looked over at Al and shot him a death glare and Al nearly choked on his last laugh.

"Brother, I'm just so happy for you, I can't help but laugh." he quickly waved his arms in front of his chest defensively. "I'm glad you two are together and getting along for once." He nervously laughed.

"Yea, thanks, little brother." he smirked.

"Little? I'm like three inches taller than you and I'm twenty one!"

Ed's grin disappeared when he heard his brother's comment on his height. He shot another glare at Al and stood up from the chair. He walked over to his brother and they compared their height. Al was right, he was taller, by a few inches. Frusterated, Ed stomped over to the door and looked back at Al. "So what? You win. At least I'm taller than Winry. She can't call me short anymore, she's the short one out of us now." he laughed and Al started laughing too. He walked over to Ed and they walked out of the shop together and into the kitchen. Alphonse decided to sit on the couch and read a book while Ed sat down at the dining room table to watch Winry cook. She decided to use the leftover chicken from dinner and put it in some soup. Ed watched her wide-eyed as she bounced around the kitchen, fetching the ingredients needed for the meal. She was humming to herself and curling a piece of hair around her finger as she started adding diced vegetables to the broth. She was adorable.

"How's the leg feel?" she asked over her shoulder, pouring in the ingredients that made up her homemade soup.

"Feels like heaven compared to those pieces of shit." he laughed, referring to the prosthetics from Germany. "I'm a little sore from the procedure though and from wearing the prosthetic, same with my arm, but it's nothing."

"Yea, that should go away in a few days." she picked up the pepper shaker and shook it over the pot, tasted it, and picked up another spice shaker and shook that one over the large pot. Seeming pleased with her work, she sat the wooden spoon down and went over to the fridge and pulled out the jug of milk. Ed's heart sank. His eyes were glued to the gallon-jug, he knew exactly what she was thinking. She went over to the cupboard, pulled out a large glass and filled it to the brim with the nasty, chalky, vomit-tasting liquid. He stuck his tongue out of the side of his mouth in disgust. Winry turned around and saw Ed's face and immediately started cracking up.

"Oh, Ed, grow up!" she sighed, "Please? I bet the last time you had a glass of milk was the last time I made you! I seriously doubt you made yourself drink some when you were gone. Just drink this one glass for me to make up for it and I won't ask you again for a while. Please?" she begged, battering her eyelashes and flashing her sapphire orbs at the man. The sight of her eyes made Edward's heart beat nearly out of his chest. He couldn't say no. He knew it.

"UGH! I can't believe I'm doing this..." he yelled, slamming his fist on the table. He picked up the glass of the white liquid and chugged it down in under ten seconds, gasping for air when he was finished. Winry burst out laughing again and then placed another large glass in front of him, this one filled with sweet tea. He snatched it up and took two big gulps to wash away the nasty taste and then sat back in his chair.

"See, Winry?"

"What?" she choked, trying to get herself to stop laughing and calm down.

"I'd do anything for you, too." he said, crossing his arms and looking over at her. She quieted, walked over to Ed, and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He blushed and watched her walk back over to the pot to pour him a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

"I know you would, Ed. Why else do you think I asked you?" she giggled, placing the bowl in front of him as she sat down. He picked up the spoon she sat by his bowl and slowly took a sip. He didn't realize how hungry he really was until then and ate the whole bowl within five minutes. He ate two more bowls after that.

Ed was ready for bed, he felt like a walking zombie by the time he was done eating. Winry went upstairs to Al's room to put new sheets and a blanket on the other twin bed. Ed and Al were sitting outside on the front porch with Den and Pinako was already in bed asleep. They sat there in silence for a few minutes, staring off into the endless fields of tall green grass. Al broke the silence.

"So...how did it happen?"

"Hm?" Ed looked over at his brother.

"How did you get back here?" Al asked nervously, meeting his brother's eyes. Ed turned and looked away, off into the fields again. His face fell as he searched for words.

"I...died, Al." he said in a shaky voice. Al looked over at his brother in alarm and confusion.

"I was put on exile for starting a rebellion against the military." His eyes still on the ground, he clenched his fist. "Those bastards were taking lives, so many lives. Completely wiping out entire citys, like a genocide." He then looked over at his brother, "I saw them...kill the old, women, children,...babies." He paused, obviously holding back tears. He then took in a big breath of air and let it out. "The Jews did absolutely nothing wrong, they were hated for no reason. Hitler just wanted to take his anger out on someone, so he picked them. He had the stupidest reasons. His own mother, Al. She was a Jew. He killed her." Al gasped, he couldn't even imagine what could possibly posess someone to kill their own mother. "I was one of the most wanted men in the entire country, I had a good sized group of followers, but they were killed one by one...because of me. Their blood...is on my hands." he exclaimed, holding up his shaky hands and looking down in disgust at them. "Finally, one of my closest allies turned out to be a spy and turned me in. They immediately arrested me. I was in prison for God knows how long, I'd say close to a year. They beat me and probably brought food once a week, if I was lucky. I don't know how I lived. I guess they just wanted me to sit there and rot, until one governor got the idea to execute me in front of everyone who hated me. Said it'd be something for the people to celebrate."

"Edward..." Al was choking back tears.

"I didn't really feel much. I was just happy...to be leaving that hell hole. That place was horrible, Al." A few tears fell from his face. "After the execution, I immediately woke up, or I guess it was right after, I don't know, but I woke up in front of The Gate." Al gasped once again. Ed continued, "I don't understand why, I was supposed to be dead and gone. I heard The Guardian from behind The Gate ask me, 'What do you want now, Elric? You selfish piece of shit. Are you attempting to live forever and follow in your greedy father's footsteps?' I remember giving that son of a bitch a few choice words and then it hit me, maybe I could go home. I asked him what I had to do so I could come back, I told him how much I missed you and that I was the only family you had left. I told him about Winry...I remember falling to my knees begging him, pleading for him to let me through. Even if I was only able to stay for a few hours, I just wanted to see you back in your body and I had to see her one last time." He looked away and shrugged, "He said that since I had been killed, there was nothing more that I could possibly give. He said that I had such a strong connection to this place, that I just couldn't leave entirely, not yet. I nodded and told him to let me through, to let me go back home. The doors flung open and those snake-like black arms grabbed me and pulled me in. Then I woke up in the outskirts of Lior."

"Damn." was all that Al could mutter out. He was in shock, he knew his brother had indeed been through hell itself, but killed? He couldn't find the words, he felt tears welling up in his eyes as he grabbed his older brother and embraced him. Ed hugged him and pat his brother on the back.

"It's over now, Al. I'm okay. I have no scars, bruises, or anything. At least from there." Al sat back and looked at Ed, he nodded and wiped his eyes. He knew he was too old to cry, but this was his brother. His only relative. He gave him the ultimate gift, he saved his life many years ago and then returned his soul back to his body. He loved his brother more than words could explain and couldn't stand hearing how badly abused he was. Ed was such a selfless person, he was only trying to help the people. They sat there in silence for a while, both thinking their own thoughts about all that had happened to Edward. Then they both jumped as they heard the door behind them open.

"Ed, your bed's ready." Winry said. They turned around and Winry flinched when she saw their faces. She could tell that they had both been crying and she knew exactly the reason why. She frowned and looked at the ground.

"I'll be there in a minute, Win." Ed said warmly, smiling at her. She nodded and turned around to go back inside, letting the door close by itself. Ed and Al stood and brushed themselves off. Ed smiled at his brother, letting him know that everything was alright. They quickly hugged one more time before they both walked back into the Rockbell house.
___

Al had gone off to bed and Ed was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. Winry was sitting on her bed, waiting to see him pass by her bedroom to walk into the one he was now sharing with his brother. He stopped at her doorway when he saw her looking at him from her bed, he went over and sat on the edge of it.

"We'll talk tomorrow, alright?" he said softly.

"Okay." Winry nodded and took Ed's hand in hers then looked into his golden eyes. "I'm sorry, Edward. About...everything." He tilted his head, confused. "I'm so sorry, all the suffering, all your childhood, your mother, everything." A few tears were making their way down her cheeks. "It's just so unfair! You're so amazing, you and Al, you did nothing to deserve all the bad things that happened to you! Where was equivalent exchange then? I just don't get it!" she sobbed. He took her into his arms and held her, rocking her back and forth gently.

"I know, Winry. All that...it was all lies. I followed all the rules after what happened with Mom and got nothing but hell in return. I believe there is some form of equivalency, with The Gate and everything, but equivalent exchange definitely does not apply to everything, like I was taught all those years ago. I grew up basing everything on that theory and it did nothing for me."

"So, what are you gonna do now?" she asked, looking up at him.

"I don't know, Win."

"Well, whatever you decide, I'll back you up." she smiled and hugged him again. He squeezed her tightly and pecked her on the lips.

"I'm gonna go get some sleep." he said, stretching his arms out as he got up from her bed. "Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." he smiled.

"Alright, goodnight, Ed." she whispered, getting into her covers and laying down.

Ed tip-toed into the room where Al was already fast asleep. He took his boots, pants, and shirt off and peeled the covers away to get into the soft bed. Bed. An actual bed? When was the last time I even slept on one? he asked himself, closing his eyes as he drifted off to sleep.
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I will have chapter three up before the weekend is over, I'm already halfway through it! Thank you for reading.