Hello everyone! This is the newly revised chapter that i made for you all :) man, a lot can change in three years huh? Well nevertheless, here it is and i promise that i will try to keep up with revising the rest of the chapters! Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Don't own FMA. Just Artemis and other future OC's.

Chapter 3: Visiting An Old Friend

As the wind blows through Artemis's hair, her and the Elric brothers enjoy the nice breeze while eating their ice creams from a small family owned parlor that wasn't very far from their apartment. She moves her hair out of her face, laughing at the jokes that Ed was making about work and their employees.

They were having a wonderful time. It had been awhile since they enjoyed each other's company like they are doing right now. Most of the time Artemis and Edward would be at each other's throats while Al would just sit and watch, trying not to get involved with their confrontations. Now the three of them were laughing and smiling for the first time in a long time and Artemis was going to savor every moment of it.

While they were having the time of their lives, Artemis spots a shiny black car pulling up in front of the parlor. She recognizes the vehicle as a military constable.

"Crap." She curses under her breath. Ed and Al stop laughing when they notice Artemis's expression change. Ed sees her eyes set on something behind him so he turns around to see what the fuss was about. Although, when he does he finds Furher Roy Mustang stepping out of the car in a full decked out uniform.

"Dammit all. Now we're going to have to here it from the Furher himself nagging about those stupid reports." Edward complains as he turns his back at Roy, making sure he doesn't see him.

Al laughs nervously, looking away as well, hoping that Roy doesn't recognize them. He sinks lower in his seat, covering his face. Artemis shakes her head from what she is seeing with Ed and Al's behavior. She knew she was going to be the professional one that was going to talk to Roy. She then discovers a set of legs exiting the car; not really knowing whose they were, she just automatically assumes that it was just one of Roy's assistants. Then the woman reveals herself as Riza Hawkeye as she closes the door to the vehicle.

"Oh wow." Artemis was surprised when she sees Riza wearing a skirt. A normal length skirt mind you. She remembers when Roy said "When I'm Furher I'm gonna have all the women wear mini skirts!" but she guesses that he matured since then and just decided to have the women wear it normal length.

Artemis then sees Riza make eye contact with her and she just froze. "Crap." She mutters under her breath. She was hoping for Riza to not see her, but she knew that wasn't going to be possible because her and "brothers" stuck out like a sore thumb. She sees Riza whisper something into Roy's ear and smiles.

Roys turns his head around to face Artemis; he smiles at her and starts to walk towards where they were. Artemis turns to face Edward and Alphonse, "You two better be on your best behavior." She scornfully points her finger at them. They both nod their heads.

"Well why isn't it the Elric Brothers and Artemis. Fine day we're having huh?" Roy Mustang, with his nice decorated uniform and all, and with his assistant, Riza Hawkeye, by his side, walks up to their table; staring at them.

Edward sits up correctly and leans back on his chair. "Yes it is Mustang. It's nice to see you out and about. I mean, do you ever see the light of day?" he questions sarcastically smiling at Roy.

Roy grins back, "Cute sarcasm Fullmetal. I guess you two won't be needing these?" He pulls out a couple of envelopes from the inside pocket of his coat and shows them to Edward and Artemis.

Both their eyes widen when they see their checks in Roy's hand. Artemis stands up and salutes him. Roy smiles when she did so and decides to give her check. Artemis couldn't believe that they finally got paid. She sighs tiredly as she sees Edward and Alphonse do the same.

"Well isn't that nice." Roy smirks while he hands them their checks.

Edward eyes Mustang suspiciously, "Tell us Mustang, what really brings you into town? Not to sound like an asshole, but you really are ever out of your office. What's the special occasion?"

Roy makes a mournful look at Riza, as she did the same. Edward raises an eyebrow, confused with what is going on.

"It's Hughes's anniversary today. That's why we are in town. We came to buy some flowers." Riza speaks first, knowing that Roy is still recuperating from the past. Roy looks off to the side.

Edward, Alphonse and Artemis's eyes widen. They hadn't realized that today was the day. The three of them share glances, knowing exactly what each of them is thinking.

Artemis grabs Ed and Al's hands, "May we tag along? So we can pay our respects as well. It's been so long."

Riza smiles warmly, "Of course you three may come." She nudges Roy's side to regain his attention again. Roy shrugs his shoulders.

"Fine by me." Roy checks his pocket watch for the time. He eyes Riza and she knows what he means by his look.

"Well we are going to take off already. See you there, if not, see the three of you soon. And stay out of trouble." Riza waves goodbye to them as they did the same when they see them enter into their vehicle.

Artemis releases her grip from her "brothers" hands, but fails when Edward tightens his hand around hers. She looks up at him confused by his actions. He faces her and smiles.

"Let's visit an old friend."

"It's been so long since we've last been here. I don't even remember where the tombstone is located." Artemis comments while holding onto the lovely arrangement of flowers in her hands. A bouquet of beautiful red poppies and blue forget-me-nots intertwined with each other that have a very meaningful symbolism.

Edward makes a 360 turn to see if he can find the gravesite but fails doing so. Alphonse has more patience than them so he is able to find the tombstone within minutes. They gradually walk over to the site and notice the bouquet that Riza and Roy had earlier. Artemis places their arrangement next to theirs and kneels down on the ground, staring at the tombstone solemnly.

Tears begin to form in the corner of her eyes, but she tries her hardest to not let them show. She then feels a set of hands on each of her shoulders. She picks her head up and sees Ed and Al smiling softly at her. Alphonse kneels next to her as well while Edward sits down, leaving his leg up while he rests his arm on it and places the other on Artemis's shoulder. Artemis breathes heavily and remembers her and Maes one-on-one conversation at the hospital when Ed was admitted after their "incident" at the 5th laboratory.

"Hey kiddo, how have you been?" Major Hughes asked as he sat next to Artemis outside the hospital room where Ed was staying after the 5th laboratory incident. Artemis looked up at Hughes and smiled weakly.

"Fine Major. Just worried is all." She responded while fiddling with her pocket watch.

Hughes smirked and settled his hand on her shoulder. "You must really care about them, huh?" he asked caringly.

Artemis looked at him and blushed lightly. "Of course I do. I mean… Someone has to," she said while he looked at her with a concerned look.

"Hey, you are doing a hell of a job. Don't forget that. " Hughes smiled down at Artemis, giving a small squeeze on her shoulder.

Artemis smirked and looked up to face him, but she tries not to cry. Though it was too late. She could feel herself shaking a little as the tears fell down to the ground. She wiped her tears away with the back of her coat sleeve. Hughes, confused by what was going on, he wraps his arm around her shoulders to try and comfort her.

"What's the matter kid?"

Artemis couldn't help it. She knew that Ed and Al was the only family that she has left and she couldn't think about not having them in her life. If they were gone. She couldn't bring herself to that realization. She bangs her automail fist on the wall, creating a small dent that she knew she was going to have to fix, but she didn't care. She looked up to face Hughes, who had backed away from her. She covers her red nosed, snot-covered face from him with her hands.

"I'm sorry. It's just," she rubbed her eyes to clear her eyes from the wetness. "Ever since Trisha died, I try to fill in as their mother. Granted, I will never reach her expectation but I try." Artemis paused for a split second. She glances back at the door where Ed was registered in and her frustration boiled through the surface.

"And that stupid, stubborn, pig headed Ed puts his life on the line like that, I don't know what to think! Doesn't he care about my feelings? Doesn't he know that I hurt as well?" she whispers the last line, as more tears fall from her face. Artemis shakes her head, as she sits back down on the bench, not realizing that she stood up.

Hughes grinned slyly, "You like him, don't you kid?"

Artemis's eyes widened when Hughes made the comment. Her cheeks flustered a bit and he noticed it right away and chuckled lightly underneath his breath. She faces the bed headed Major and can't help but get annoyed.

"It's not like that. I can't. He's my brother. That'd be wrong. And the fact that I'm an Ishbalan doesn't help it either." Artemis looked solemnly down at the floor while she messed with her pocket watch some more. She knew she never had a chance with Edward, even if her life depended on it.

"And besides, he likes Winry anyways."

Hughes shook his head. "Ok two things. One: You guys aren't related. Get that out of your head," he then lightly bumped the top of her head. "And two: He doesn't care about your race. You of all people should know that about him. So don't be surprised if things end up turning around for the better."

Artemis rolled her eyes and shook her head as well. "You're such an optimist aren't ya Major?"

Hughes shrugged his shoulders and grinned, "Someone has to." He places his hand on Artemis's head and ruffled her dark sand colored hair out of place. She didn't care, it was already a mess and she hadn't bothered to fix it since the incident.

Artemis felt her face dry up as the tears faded away. She couldn't help but smile at what Hughes mentioned. She laughs at the thought of her and Edward ever getting together. The idea seemed way too far-fetched and the more she thought of it, the harder she laughed. Hughes cocked his head to the side as he just stared at her attack.

"Oh Hughes," she laughed, "that is the most hilarious thing I've ever heard." Artemis tried to control her laughter but she couldn't. She holds onto her stomach and feels a bit of wetness on the corner of her eyes, but she was crying because she was sad. No, she was laughing so hard that it made her cry.

"Mark my words Artemis! By my deathbed, you and Edward will together and for that matter, married!" Hughes states boldly as he points his index finger at her. Artemis stopped laughing and stared at him, smiling hopelessly at him. She rolled her eyes once more.

"Whatever you say Major. Whatever you say."

Artemis smirks at the memory of her and Hughes's conversation. She can't believe that after all that, after all her and Edward have been through with each other, they still haven't ended up together. She can already picture Hughes barking up her ally on why Ed hasn't made the moves or why she hasn't either. She shifts her eyes to the left, trying not to make it obvious that she is staring at Ed. She looks back at the grave and sighs.

'Well Hughes, it's already been six years and still nothing from me and Ed. Sorry.' She apologizes to Hughes, who was probably nudging her head at that moment. She smiles warmly at the grave as she lifts her hand and places it on the smooth granite.

'But we are getting close. Closer than before. I just wish you were here. You always had something to say about these situations I was in.' Artemis sighs tiredly. She quickly picks herself up and shakes the itchy grass off her clothes. She rubs the tombstone, while smiling, she lightly pecks the first two fingers on her hand and places it on top. She crosses her arms across her chest and walks away from the site, not waiting for Ed or Al to follow her.

Shortly after Artemis got up, Ed and Al stood up as well. They said their goodbyes while they see Artemis leaning up against the old oak tree by where the taxi is parked. Ed was going to walk over and comfort her, but Al got to her first. He sees his younger brother gently tug at Artemis's sleeve, as if he was five again and wanted a favor of some sort. Edward just smirks at the sight; he couldn't shake the fact that his life was back to normal. That everything is going as planned and nothing can ruin his happiness with his family. Having Artemis by his side and Alphonse back in his life just made him realize that he shouldn't take anything for granted, because he knew that in an instant they can be gone. He shakes that idea from his head, focusing back on his family. Ed started daydreaming up until Alphonse broke his thought.

"Brother, we should go visit Gracia and Elysia. I bet they would enjoy the company." Alphonse suggests while holding onto Artemis's arm.

Edward shrugs his shoulders. He looks over at Artemis who seems to be in a daze as well. He tries to make eye contact by moving his head to meet hers. Artemis breaks out of her concentration and faces Edward who surprises her with his sincere smile. She gives him a confused facial expression.

"What's going on?" she questions innocently as the Elric's stare at her, waiting for her answer.

Ed shakes his head while Alphonse gives a small laugh. Artemis's cheeks blush from embarrassment.

" Al was wondering if we should visit Gracia and Elysia while we're at it. Considering the fact we haven't paid them a visit in a while." Edward fills Artemis in on the details.

Artemis nods her head and grins. "That would be nice. We should."

Edward smirks, "Well let's head out."

They all pile in the cab one by one. Before Ed settles in his seat, he turns around to face the gravesite once more before sitting down and taking off. He mutters under his breath softly so no one can hear him. "Until next time old friend. Take care."