Alright, I can now devote a little time to actually WRITING stuff.

Every other weekend for TWO MONTHS now, I have been in this tournament called DRAMAfest. We have had rehearsals almost every day, and on top of that there's homework.

But, my dog just had his April Fools birthday (which I was in Boston for, thanks to DRAMAfest) and I have some inspiration.

Disclaimer: Standard

Onto the chapter... which I will enjoy writing.

Ed squinted his eyes against the harsh light emanating from somewhere above his head. When he tried turning on his side, it got worse, for the light reflected off some metal surface and blinded him even more, if possible. In fact, the whole room seemed to glow with this light, and his head didn't feel like taking it. Instead, it felt like it would just explode.

When Ed's eyes finally adjusted, he found himself in an all-white room, accounting for the light bouncing off the white surfaces.

There was only one place he could think of (Well, two, but a sanitarium isn't a very likely choice) where there were all-white rooms.

The Hospital.

Chapter 3

He groaned. He'd spent too much time in hospitals than he ever wished to admit. Why was he here again? Well, he was in Central for Elysia's birthday... and he'd taken Winry-

Winry!

Ed gasped and sat up, finding himself in so much pain that he practically bounced back down onto the hospital bed.

"Major Elric, sir?" Someone asked him.

"Hawkeye?" he groaned out, the light still affecting his eyes so much that he had to squint to make out the outline of the Lieutenant.

"Correct, sir. Are you feeling alright, sir?"

"Heck no!" Ed answered, feeling his own forehead. "What happened? Something happened to Winry, I know it. What happened?"

"Sir..." Hawkeye started. "Are you sure you are feeling alright sir? This piece of information might..."

"Just tell me what happened,"

"Miss Rockbell... was abducted yesterday by a man you called Envy, who was acting as Colonel Mustang. You are currently in Central Hospital, where the Colonel has given explicit instructions about your recovery from the wounds the homunculus gave you,"

"Envy. Well, what happened to Winry? Where is she? I remember telling Mustang that he should go look for her. So he must have found her, if he had time to call someone to bring me here,"

When Hawkeye didn't answer, Edward glanced in her direction. She was not meeting his gaze.

"That- that-"

"Major!"

"He didn't listen to me! HE LEFT A CIVILIAN IN GRAVE DANGER! Do you KNOW what Envy could DO to her!"

"Major, please. The Colonel has every possible squad out looking for her-"

"A lot of good THAT'S gonna do! Envy's loooooong gone by now! Why the FLIP did I have to pass out RIGHT THEN!"

"SIR!" Hawkeye said, raising her voice. She cleared her throat. "First, it is bad for you to be yelling. We are in a hospital and your condition still isn't in top form. Second... given the appropriate time to think about it... I believe Colonel Mustang's decision was the right choice,"

"You WHAT!"

"Sir, when we had figure out it was Envy instead of Mustang, the homunculus already had a very good head start on us, not to mention we had no idea whether he'd already harmed her,"

"I THOUGHT the military was supposed to save CIVILIANS! There are many who go down in the line of duty. I should have been one of them. My life for Winry's return, it's equivalency,"

"Not to offend, sir, but- NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAS EQUIVALENCY! You, sir, should know that,"

Ed stared at the blankets of his bed.

"Plus, Winry is a strong girl, Edward," she said, forgetting formalities for a moment. "I've seen the way she acts, not to mention that she'd have to be strong to push you around. Which she does quite well, sir,"

Winry awoke not in Edward's arms, as she had expected, but in a cold hotel-like room with darkened windows and only a small bedside lamp for comfort.

"Ed...ward?" she moaned, sitting up. Her hand reached her forehead, feeling for anything wrong. Finding nothing, she immediately went to the door and tried the handle.

But of course, it was locked.

Winry sighed, taking a seat on the bed. Of course she didn't know where she was. If Ed was here, he wouldn't have locked the door, nor would he have left her alone. So that means, she must have been captured.

Tears sprang to her eyes at this revelation. She hadn't had to face anything alone since... well, in a long time. Ed's old promise to her, that she would never have to go through anything alone again, still had rung true up to this point.

---

"Winry? I'm sorry,"

"Go away, Ed,"

"But Winry, Pinako's worried about you. She doesn't know how to say it. Your parents... I just don't think that you should have to go through this alone. I know if my mother died, I would want to be with my brother a whole lot. But you don't have a sister or brother that you can be with. It's not fair,"

Sniffles from Winry's direction distracted Ed.

"Before she left, mummy said that I was gonna get a little brother or sister a few months after they came back," The young girl sniffed again.

"Aw, Win," Ed said, hugging the child. "Here, why don't we play house all the time. I'll be the big brother, and you can be the little sister, that way you'll always have a brother, and you'll always have fun because we'll never ever stop playing the game, ever,"

"Thanks Ed,"

---

She was still sniffling when she heard the doorknob being turned, and someone stepping into the room. She immediately turned to look.

"You," she whispered.

"Hi, Winry,"

"No! You're dead!"

"I thought it was awfully nice of you to come to town for my Elysia's birthday. She really needed it. She's been so sad since I left, she really needs an older sister. I think she thinks of you like that,"

"No! Mr. Hughes, please stop it," Winry cradled her head in her hands.

"Hey, you heard her, Envy. Now stop,"

"Hey shorty! When did you get to decided what I do and don't do!"

"Since the master put me in charge of the girl!"

Winry heard someone grumble and leave the room. She peeked upward, not wanting to see Mr. Hughes again. Instead, she saw Wrath. When he came toward her, she scrambled to the other side of the bed.

Wrath chuckled condescendingly. "What? Afraid of me, Winry?"

"I'm not afraid... I'm just not taking any chances," she said, clutching the bedsheets.

"Well, you shouldn't be, anyway. I'm not going to hurt you. The master told me not to. She wants you to be in tip-top condition. Although... you were one of the only ones who was nice to me after I was found on that island..." he turned his back to her and sat on the bed.

Winry stood, the change in his voice somewhat reassuring.

He leaned back on the bed, looking at her upside-down (with a view of the underside of her bust). "Heck, you even gave me a bath!"

Winry giggled slightly, (Wrath noticed from this angle that her chest jiggled). But she was unsure of how she could be okay around him after he attacked her earlier. Perhaps it was because this was the homunculus she was most familiar with. She knew that he couldn't change into other people in front of her, so she knew that this couldn't be anyone but Wrath... unless, this was Envy pretending to be Wrath. Could homunculi do that?

"Winry, what's wrong?" Wrath asked innocently.

No, this couldn't be Envy. He wouldn't have known that she'd given Wrath a bath back in Dublith with Izumi and Sig. She doubted Wrath would reveal that... private... information.

"Nothing," she replied, shaking her head (this also made her chest jiggle Wrath was being VERY observant today). "Well, nothing besides being kidnapped, taken away from Edward, and unable to know when I will get another decent meal,"

Wrath laughed. "Are you hungry, Winry? If you are, then I should tell Master. She would want you in top condition,"

"Your master is a woman?" Winry asked, faking innocence.

"Oh yes. Edward is very well acquainted with her,"

A certain emotion surged in Winry for some unknown reason. "And just how acquainted with Edward is she, Wrath?" she asked, leaning over the boy.

"Oh! He's run into her many times on his journeys," Wrath said (momentarily mesmerized by how her chest jiggles more when she leans over, and mentally wondering why this doesn't happen to Lust or Sloth). "It's very funny that he still doesn't know who she is!" Wrath laughed.

The emotion that surged within Winry died, and she thought some more. "I think I would like some food, Wrath,"

"Okay!" Wrath said, sitting up. "Master says that you should get out of those clothes. They are stinky and wet. And that you can change into any one of the dresses in the closet! But she said that you should dress well for your first dinner with her, which will be in a few hours,"

"Er- right. Thank you, Wrath,"

The boy left.

And Winry proceeded to sob into her pillow.

"She's not as strong as she appears to be,"

"What?" Hawkeye asked the young alchemist.

"Winry. You said she's strong, but she's not as strong as she pretends to be,"

"Edward, I'm not sure how you mean that,"

"She pretends to be strong. She's a great actress too. But you haven't been there with her. Do you know why I never went home in the first four years I was a state alchemist?"

Hawkeye was silent, staring at the youth.

"It was because of her. And her grandmother. The looks they gave me when Al and I walked away were heart-wrenching. I knew what I was getting into, being a dog of the military. I knew I'd make friends fast, but enemies even faster. Enemies of the state were now my enemies, not to mention that state alchemists are a hot debate among the people of Amestris. That's also the reason why I never try to stay at home longer than I have to. If they found where I lived... Great job I did at that, anyway. Wrath was able to follow me there and attacked Winry,"

He glanced at Hawkeye, and was pleased to find he still had her rapt attention.

"Every time I go back there, it gets harder and harder to leave. Her last looks at me tear me even more, and I push to get away from saying the stuff I want to say to her. You can see perfectly her vulnerability when she gives me those looks. You didn't see the look on her face when she was told her parents died. Her mother was pregnant, did you know that?"

A soft gasp from Hawkeye brought Ed's attention back to her.

"I didn't think you did. Needless to say, it only made me madder at Mustang for killing three people instead of two, when I found out he was the Rockbell's murderer. She cried for three days straight. I promised her that I'd always be there for her, like a surrogate brother. And then my mother died, her surrogate mother, and she cried even more,"

"After those two, she learned to harden, but there are still cracks in her facade. You can see them every once in a while. Like when Al and I leave. Or, when I used to call Nelly's house to talk to her because Winry's over there, and I hear Win sniffling in the background while Nelly tries to make up an excuse that will give Win time to dry her tears, with Nelly knowing all the while that I can hear Win perfectly well. And then when she comes on the phone a few moments later, in her perfectly fake "happy voice" telling me about some new automail tool she just got, or in her "angry voice" yelling at me because she thought I busted my automail again,"

Ed chuckled.

"Although, that won't happen anymore," he said, pulling up his flesh right arm. "I'm sure by now, everybody knows,"

"Actually, Edward, Mustang asked that the nurse keep it a secret about your automail, and he's forbidden anyone from coming to see you, for their own safety, as well as yours,"

"Well, at least the Colonel did SOMETHING right,"

"Edward..." Hawkeye warned.

"It's perfectly alright, Hawkeye," another voice came in from the hallway. "I can understand what Fullmetal is saying, and why he is angry with me. Miss Rockbell is a very dear childhood friend of his. I'm sure I'd feel the same way if one of my friends was abducted,"

Edward grumbled at the sudden appearance of his superior officer.

"Feeling well, Edward?" Mustang asked, his voice reeking of superiority.

"I'd be feeling better if my best friend wasn't ABDUCTED!"

"Ah, ah, Edward! Superior officer," Mustang taunted, pointing a finger at himself.

Ed leaned back on the bed and crossed his arms, glaring at the Colonel and sighing.

Hawkeye sighed as well. She could most certainly see Edward's reason of dislike for the Colonel when she was in a room with the both of them. The Colonel didn't stop teasing the alchemist, leaving Ed's only option as yelling. But she knew that the Colonel was only teasing to remind Edward that he was still a child, and could act like it sometimes. Perhaps that message didn't get across to Edward as well as she had hoped.

"Sir, perhaps you ought to brief Major Elric on the situation," Hawkeye said, clearing her throat.

"What 'situation', Hawkeye? There is no situation on anything. We haven't been able to find her, as much as we've been looking," Mustang said, shrugging. "I don't believe I needed to tell 'Major Elric' that, though, Hawkeye. From his previous dealings with the homunculi, I'm sure he already knew that we wouldn't,"

Ed nodded.

"What I think is our next course of action, is getting 'Major Elric' to tell us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,"

"So help me god," Ed said sarcastically.

"No jokes, Edward. I want answers. What happened to you and your brother? You're obviously whole again. What about your brother? What about that suit of armor that-"

"Alright! Alright! I get it, you don't have to ask me twice. But I need you both to promise that whatever is said in this room does not leave this room. It is very important that you both give me your word,"

"Done," Mustang said, sitting next to Hawkeye.

"Sir," Hawkeye said, referring to Edward.

"That last attempt at the philosopher's stone was a success. Not even with your word to I dare explain my procedure here. So, with the stone, I pulled Al's body from the gate,"

At the confused looks on both of their faces, Edward attempted an explanation.

"It's the place where all alchemic energy comes from. When you draw a transmutation circle, you open the gate and take out energy from the souls contained within. But the souls in there have no real need of bodies, so they left Al alone when his body crossed into the gate during our illegal transmutation. Then, I just attached the soul and mind in the armor to the body. It being his own body, the soul and mind weren't rejected, so Al was brought back. At the time, he was unconscious because the body couldn't handle getting a soul and mind and was exhausted. So, I turned to making myself a new arm and leg,"

"Which we've seen was a half-success," Mustang said.

"Yes, the first one was my arm, and I didn't take off my automail, because I had no idea how to MAKE an arm. Anyway, it disintegrated beneath a layer of skin that stretched from my shoulder. I took the automail out to do my leg, it was much less painful. Anyway, I carried Al to a hotel and we stayed there for a day, until Al woke up. I started to pump energy into Alphonse's old armor, to fool everyone. We couldn't have the homunculi figuring out that we'd made a stone. Al stayed in a hotel while I took the armor to the dorm,"

"And that's where the military stepped in," Mustang said.

"Yeah. You tried interrogating the empty-shell of my brother without my knowing and, for the sake of everyone's safety, I asked for a vacation to Resembool. It was a chance I was willing to take, to go home again and show them and my mother that I paid for my sin. However, it wasn't until I was halfway there with Major Armstrong when I figured out that I could be putting them in jeopardy. But I still did it anyway. Major Armstrong knows about us. Pinako and Winry know. But that's it. Well, besides the homunculi now. That's why they want Winry,"

Mustang leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. "So you don't currently have the Philosopher's stone in your possession," he asked.

"No,"

"And no one else knows where it is?"

"No,"

"Good, that would have been an unnecessary drawback," Mustang said, and looked at Edward. "Where do you think we should start?"

"We should call her grandmother and inform her of the incident, but plead with her to remain in Resembool with Al and the Major. I don't know anything about the homunculi's headquarters, so we'll just have to wait out for any attacks they institute. We know they'll be back to get me. If possible, we should set up an exchange. Winry for the Philosopher's stone,"

"You would seriously do that, what with all the trouble you had to go through to get it?"

"Of course not!" Edward said. "The ingredients to the philosopher's stone are far too dangerous to do that. But, if I've learned to make a real one, I've certainly learned how to make a really good fake. Besides, we shouldn't expect the homunculi to play without a loaded deck. But it may give us a clue as to where they're keeping Winry, or even where their hideout is,"

"Smart," Mustang said, grinning on the inside.

"Until we can set this up, I would like to appear to be left alone when I am released from the hospital. This puts me in a vulnerable position, and they may make an offensive move, thinking I'm alone,"

"But we'll have backup for you, correct?"

"Correct. The more military personnel around me, the more likely it is that we'll be able to get something out of the homunculi,"

A nurse appeared at the door. "Visiting hours are over," she said politely to Mustang and Hawkeye. She blushed when Mustang turned to look at her, while Hawkeye scowled at the both of them.

"Good plan, Edward. The doctor says you may be released tomorrow," Mustang said, turning back to the boy in the bed.

"We'll talk then," Ed said.

Winry didn't know how the dress could be any tighter, nor show off any more of her cleavage. Wrath had picked it out when he'd come with Winry's snack. It was an old style dress, looking like one that would have been used for balls in prior times. The color was a dark blue that matched her eyes. The bodice part was off-white with a dark blue ribbon that came to pull two halves together in a criss-cross fashion that was tied in a bow at about the height of her stomach. The sleeves ended at her elbows with frilly lace around the cut. There was more of the frilly lace where the neck of the dress stooped low. Had the lace not been there, it was likely that you would have seen most of her chest area.

Winry had no idea why she had to wear such a revealing dress to dinner with her kidnapper, especially if she was a she. Wouldn't a normal kidnapper not invite you to dinner in the first place? It seemed very odd to Winry.

When Winry knocked on her door, allowing Wrath to come back in, he smiled and clapped his hands together, saying she looked awfully pretty. Winry noticed his eyes travel along the stooping neckline, and blushed red. Wrath just laughed. He took her hand and led her over to the vanity. He pushed her down into the seat and began ruffling through the drawers. Winry watched him curiously.

He straightened a few moments later, cradling in his hands a small pearl necklace the same shade as the off-white color in her dress. He fumbled with the clasp, and then placed the necklace around her neck. It was simple, yet held a sort of elegance that big flashy jewelry couldn't muster.

"You should curl your hair!" Wrath said, sitting on her bed while she marveled at the necklace. "Master will be very pleased. She likes curly hair, and it would look good on you,"

Winry seemed to think about it. "Do I have time?" she asked.

"Oh yes! Dinner doesn't begin until seven. That gives you fifteen minutes!"

Winry took the time while the iron was heating to ask Wrath a question.

"Wrath... Don't homunculi not have to eat?"

Wrath put a finger to his chin. "Well, four of us don't. But because Pride and I are homunculi that can age, we have to. Greed died. And of course Gluttony does, it's what he's named after. And then, the Master's not a homunculus, so she has to eat!" He smiled brightly.

Winry had already figured out that the homunculi must have been named after the seven deadly sins. Placing the iron on a strand of her hair, she softly started to curl it. She sighed.

"What is the deal with you and Edward?" Wrath asked.

"Huh?" Winry asked, her hand jolting so that the iron scorched her neck a bit. Wrath did not repeat himself. "Well... Edward and I have been together since I was born. He's only nine months older than I am, and his mother came to my mother for his birth. Father was mother's doctor the day I was born, so Trisha was there with my mother Sara, and therefore, Edward was there. I've been told he was very helpful. He didn't even cry when he heard my mother screaming. Instead, he tottered over to her and gave her a hug. Mother was so astounded,"

Winry placed the curling iron on the next clump of hair.

"When they found I was a girl, they immediately paired Edward and me up for everything. I was even there the day Alphonse was born. Edward and I have been childhood friends forever. And we will always be friends. We've gone through too much stuff together for anything to be able to break us apart now," she snuck a look at Wrath while she held the iron up against her head, curling a new strand. His face showed inquisitiveness. She started again, "... But lately..."

"Lately what?" Wrath asked.

"Nothing!" Winry ushered, putting the iron down, straightening her hair, standing up and situating her skirts about her. "Come on, Wrath. It's almost dinnertime,"

"Right," he said, grabbing onto Winry's hand and pulling her along behind him.

He led her down a long staircase at the end of the hallway where her prison of a room was. Winry tried very hard to remember all the halls Wrath led her down, so that she might be able to get out if she escaped, but she didn't see an exit anyway. A long staircase led to a ballroom-like dining hall with one long table set in the center, and a stage at one end. Winry gasped at its entirety. It was a beautifully built room.

She was brought back down to earth (or Amestris) by Wrath tugging on her hand, leading her toward the table.

"Ah!" a voice from the table called. A young woman with short black hair stood at the end of the table opposite the side Winry was being pushed toward.

A cry from a baby interrupted everything. Winry looked around to find the tiny child, and peeked at it in a cloth held by another woman at the table, who hadn't stood up and was paying attention only to the baby in her arms.

"Good Evening, Winry. I am pleased to finally meet you. My name is Lyra," the woman with the black hair said, still standing. "You look even better in that gown than I thought you would," Winry felt slightly uncomfortable in the presence of this woman. "And you have a magnificently well-built body. It's no wonder Edward loves you so much,"

At this phrase, the silent woman with the baby gasped, but her eyes didn't seem to focus, and she went right on staring at the baby.

"Aw, poor dear. Winry, this is Rose. Rose, why don't you tell Winry how much you love Edward and say hello?"

There was quiet for a few moments as Rose tried to gather words. "I- I- lo-ve- lo-"

Winry's heart reached out to the girl. She was obviously being held here against her will, and she was in inner turmoil. But, she said- or tried to say- that she loved Edward. Was this baby his?

A wail from said baby brought its mother's attention back to it.

"I think he's hungry, Rose dear. Perhaps you should feed him," Lyra suggested, sitting down and motioning for Winry to sit too.

Winry's eyes stuck to the girl as she pulled on the bosom of her own ballroom gown and one of her breasts protruded, which the baby sought out skillfully and started to suckle on.

"I hope you don't mind, Winry dear," Lyra asked, catching Winry staring.

"Er- no. Not at all. It's just natural, right?" Winry replied, feeling entirely uncomfortable. She felt a sort of relief when Wrath sat down next to her and picked up his fork and knife.

"I'm hungry!" he said.

"Don't be impatient, Wrath. It's bad manners. And can't you see we have a guest tonight? Well, I suppose we must start eating at some point," she clapped her hands twice. Some animal-like things came toward them with dinner plates on their heads. "Chimeras," Lyra explained. "They can be the best servants in the world if you train them correctly,"

Winry's mouth formed an "oh" but no sound came out.

Dinner was going to be very interesting.

TBC

HEYA! I haven't updated in a while. So, here you go.

P.S. I figured that Izumi did her human transmutation on the boy who was to become Wrath when he was only a baby, therefore Wrath had to age.

P.P.S. REVIEW PLEASE

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