"Edward, are you sure you don't want me to come along?" Winry asked as she placed their young son on her hips.
"I'm sure. I won't be gone too long and besides this little man would be bored stiff." He answered as he ruffled the little boys head.
"Well tell me what you find out and let me know when you get there so I know you made it there safely alright." She demanded as she handed him his overnight bag.
"I promise." He smiled and gave her a quick kiss. "And you, take care of your mother and baby sister while I'm gone kay." He told his son who just smiled and nodded.
"Alright well we'll be back in a couple of days." Ed said as he waved his small family a goodbye and started for the station. It was easier to take the train to Dublith than take the car.
As soon as Edward got seated and relaxed a bit his mind drifted off to the dreams he's been having. All of them were of different memories and times but they all had one thing in common, all of them had that girl in them. Alexandria. But like always when he woke up his memories of those times were gone and when he tried remembering them he would only end up with countless questions and a horrible headache. Something was stopping him from remembering. But what?
Later.
Alphonse Elric was busy scanning the crowds for his older brother. He was certain he said he would be here on the first train that morning but so far nothing. Just as Al was about to give up and head back to the Curtis's a voice called out to him.
"Alphonse!"
"Brother!" He called out in reply. Even though they had seen each other just last month it was good to see each other again.
"How are you?" Alphonse asked as he hugged the blonde.
"I'm okay." Ed told him even though it was plainly obvious that he wasn't. Edward Elric was a shell of what he used to be. He had lost weight since Alphonse last saw him and he could tell with the bags under his eyes that he hadn't had much sleep either.
"Still having those dreams?" Al asked as they walked side by side down the street.
"It's not just the dreams Al it's everything else. It's the headaches and the infuriating fact that the memories just disappear. All I remember are the dreams and nothing else. Edward said sighing as he took in his younger brother's appearance.
Al too looked worse for wear. He has also lost weight and probably hadn't been sleeping much with what Ed could tell.
"I know. But I know we will figure this out. We have to it's all there somewhere. Hopefully teacher will be able to help." Al said as they turned the corner on the street that lead to the familiar house.
"We're here!" Al said as he walked into the home.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the almighty Edward Elric finally gracing us humble people with his presence." Izumi mocked.
"Yeah well hello to you too teacher." Ed replied smirking. The woman hated being addressed as such.
"Hmph." She answered as she walked over to Ed.
He was expecting a blow to the stomach but what he didn't expect was a welcomed embrace.
"It's really been too long Elric." She sighed.
"Yes. I'm sorry things have been hectic." Ed said as he returned the hug and sat down on the couch beside Alphonse and across from Izumi.
"I'm sorry to hear about Pinako. I wanted to come by and pay my respects but I wasn't feeling up to a long train ride." She said sadly.
"It's fine Winry understood. She sends her best wishes."
"How's that little spit fire of yours doing?" She asked. "And Winry's pregnancy?"
"Both are doing good. Thanks." He smiled.
"Good." She said with a nod. After a length pause Izumi decided to get straight to the point.
"So, let's talk about why both of you are here out of the blue." She said finally.
"What two fellow alchemists can't pay their teacher a visit every now and then." Al asked.
"Not when they are busy individuals and look as terrible as you two do."
"You're right. We came here for a reason." Ed answered after taking a breather.
"This is about Alexandria isn't it."
Both Elrics were shocked to say the least. Were they both wrong and Izumi knew all along the truth?
"Don't look at me like that fools. I only asked because I too have been plagued by dreams and headaches." Izumi said as she brought her hand up to massage her temples.
"So, it can't be a coincidence or just bizarre reoccurring dreams." Ed said finally.
"No not at all. Sure, if it was only one of us then it would be fine but all three of us reliving our lost 'memories' in our dreams of the same person. It can be anything but." She said.
"You think they are memories as well then." Alphonse added.
"Yes. But what I don't understand is why none of us remember these when we are a wake. It's almost like something is blocking them."
"But why?" Ed asked.
"I-I have theory."
"What is it teacher?" Al asked.
"Well it's a long shot but it would make sense. Actually, it's the only thing that makes sense." She said.
Izumi looked at the two of them when they didn't say anything. Guessing they wanted to hear her thoughts she thought back to the dream she had this morning.
Izumi's dream.
"Alexa, wait a minute." Izumi said as she called out to the girl who was about to board the train going home.
"Yes teacher?"
"I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"It's about the boys." She said.
"What about them?" The brown-haired girl asked. To Izumi Alexandria was more like the daughter she never had instead of a pupil and she enjoyed the time she spent with her and her younger brothers. The house she shared with her husband has never been livelier.
"I'm worried they might do something foolish." She told her.
"Foolish?" She asked. "Like what?"
"I don't know, it's just that alchemy can affect a person's mind greatly. They believe that alchemy is the fix all solution when in reality it is anything but. They are still young and need someone to look after them. I know you are not much older than them but you're the only one I feel I can count on."
Izumi has watched the girl and saw how she looks after her brothers, almost as if she was their mother instead of their sister. It's a big task but she trusts that she can handle it.
Oh, how wrong she was.
Dream end.
"So, what? Do you believe she knew what we were planning?" Ed asked disbelievingly.
"I don't know. If somehow she found out at the last minute and was able to do something that might account to why you survived and the price she paid could be why our memories of her had vanished." She said.
"Wait what?"
"Ed listen, do you really believe that you would be able to do something like bring Al's soul back by yourself? You were what 11? You were bleeding to death and managed to tether your brother's soul by yourself. That is unheard of."
"Why didn't you say anything before?" Ed asked.
"Because anything is possible originally I thought it might be that your adrenaline allowed your brain to go into overdrive and perform it before you lost consciousness. But now…"
"I don't-" Ed was about to argue when they heard a knock at the door.
"I-" Izumi was about to get up when Sig came and said he will take care of it.
"Listen Ed it is just a hypothesis. Nothing more."
"Boys you have some company…" Sig said as he entered the living room bringing a guest with him.
"Winry?" Ed questioned. The last person he expected to see here was his wife.
"Ed, you won't believe what I found out… the address that the letters came from all originate from an apartment building in East city!" Winry said as she tried to catch her breath. When Winry looked into the whereabouts that the letters originated from she was surprised to find that they were from the city to the east of them. She was always so close by.
"What?" Ed exclaimed as he came over to help her sit down.
"East City. But that's not all guess who's place it was…"
Everyone looked shocked and a little lost. Winry, by doing the simplest thing found out more than they have in the past week.
"Who?" Izumi asked.
"Grumman!" Winry answered excitedly. Once again everyone was a little lost, did they know someone by the name of Grumman? They all looked at each other as if searching for someone who knew.
"Do you mean the Fuhrer Grumman?" Sig asked.
"Of course, not dear." His wife said.
"Yes, the one and only!" Winry interrupted.
"What!" Everyone shouted.
"The building was under his name…" She said.
"Then does this mean that…" Al started saying.
"The Fuhrer knows Alexandria?" Ed finished. After this everyone looked at each other with the realization that maybe just maybe they were getting closer to the truth.
"Well looks like our next stop is Central brother." Al said to Edward with a smile.