Chapter 10:
Lucky To Meet You Here

Emma Johnson sat calmly on the floor, observing the body lying in front of her. She hadn't moved in a while. Emerson hadn't moved either. He was dead. The culprit had realized that a long time ago, still screaming and crying then.

Emma felt such pain and despair that she couldn't move anymore. So many emotions soared up from deep within – so many that didn't make sense. Regret, pain and hate mingled with the despair that wasn't Emma Johnson's.

Emma's hand was lying in the red puddle connecting the dead man and herself. The puddle wasn't warm anymore – the blood was cold just like Emerson. Emma lifted her hand up and watched as a few droplets fell down and traced down her arm. She chuckled, not being able to react in any other manner anymore. She dipped her hand into the puddle of blood and made sure her hand was soaking wet before she pulled it out and wrote on the floor next to it:

"Achi loves Vivi"

It was written in English. With the blood that had run through the heart and veins of the person madly in love with his murderer. But the culprit wasn't even able to grasp the situation – let alone the irony.

Emma stood up slowly. Her knees were cracking as she did so. She slowly walked out of the room, not turning around to look at the passed Emerson. She had watched him long enough.

Emma smiled sadly as the wind greeted her as she exited the house.

It hurts so much.

.ooOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo.

The knife was brought down fast, but precisely. It had neatly cut the first piece.

Ed grinned proudly at his bride, together they held the knife and finally cut their pompous cake. It had three stories and was decorated heavily in all the colors the rainbow had to offer. It was Armstrong's wedding present. They had no idea how he had managed to bring it, but it sure was a sight. Winry had told him they could just get a cake from the local bakery, but the muscle man had insisted that he would bring her the cake of her dreams! More like his dreams, but Winry was still impressed. The putti with little mustaches might have been too much, but it was big enough for all guests so she gladly took the first piece and tried to feed Edward with a big marzipan heart. Tried and failed.

"You made this wonderful cake by yourself, Mr. Armstrong?" Mei gasped impressed. It was a cake worthy of a princess.

"The recipe has been passed down the Armstrong family for generations!" The former Major exclaimed proudly. Alphonse – who stood next to them – wondered if he had just imagined that the cake sparkled like its maker. Not wanting to listen to more of the starting cake talk, Al excused himself to get them new drinks.

The older Elric wasn't able to escape the cake in all its glory, though. Edward avoided the heart shaped 'plane' Winry tried to land on his tongue the second time.

"Go away with that!"

"Come on, don't be such a killjoy!" She grinned enjoying to torment him with their over-decorated piece of cake. "It's a symbol of our looooove~"

Ed opened his mouth to protest – not to let her have her way: "You certainly drank too much already."

"You drank too less, my honey." Winry pursed her lips and pouted childishly. She dropped the little heart on her plate and reached for the bottle of champagne in the silver bucket next to her. Edward watched his wife while she tried to refill their glasses gracefully – and ended up overfilling both.

"Might be a sign if you get less than the table …" Edward muttered.

.ooOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo.

Alphonse was in a tight spot and he knew it. He had left Mei's side to get them something from the bar (and escape Armstrong's rant about icing) – and had run directly into Mary West, who was delighted to force her company onto him.

"Oh my dear boy, I saw you dancing with that lovely Xingese girl! She's the same you were with at the 'Red Barrel', right?" Mary put her arm around Al's shoulders, coming close like she always did. She was easily as tall as him. The stern look of the eagle on her golden locket reminded Al to look up and to meet Mary's sharp eyes.

"Yes, she was. She's my girlfriend! Her name is Mei-" Al noticed that one of the feathers from Mary's boa had loosened and slowly glided down her bosom. "She's my girlfriend!"

Mary grinned and caressed his shoulder.

"Do me a favor and have a drink with me, okay? Don't worry I'll release you soon, so your sweetie won't miss you." The older woman winked and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the bar. "What do you drink, my dear?"

"Ah, wine is fine!" Al was a little startled by the sudden change in her voice – the flirting way in which she normally spoke was gone. Instead her tone was soft, almost motherly. He watched as she ordered a glass of wine and a scotch without ice. The young blond suddenly felt awkward, the air around her was different. Al decided to begin a talk:

"Your performance today is really great, Mary!"

The chanteuse handed him his glass and smiled warmly:

"Thank you, you're so sweet. To the lovely couple!" She raised her glass.

"To Ed and Winry!" Al responded to the toast and clinked glasses with her.

After Mary had swallowed a big gulp of the ten year old scotch, she said in a low voice:

"You two … you didn't have it easy, did you?"

Alphonse was surprised that Mary suddenly brought up their past. She never had asked the Elric brothers about it before.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to bring you down, Alphonse. I just heard a lot about you two." She eyed him, Al felt like she pierced through him with her gaze. He shifted his weight to his left leg.

"Ah, no … it's okay. You must have heard a lot here at the wedding, huh?"

Mary chuckled: "Everywhere, my dear boy, everywhere. The whole city told me about you. You two are very famous in East City- no, in all of Amestris. Real celebrities!"

"I guess ..." Al was a bit embarrassed and scratched his ear, trying to avoid her eyes.

It suddenly was as if they were alone in the room. All the noises and chatter around them were silenced.

"Ha ha, still so modest! … But there are no heroes with an easy past, huh? I'm sorry about all your losses." Her words of condolence were low, but sincere. "Must have been hard."

The faces of those left behind flashed up in Alphonse's mind. Not just his mother, but the faces of all those who had died before the promised day had ended, too. Alphonse glanced over to Elicia. She was playing with Xiao-Mei and laughing happily.

"Thank you." Al responded seriously, locking eyes with her as he straightened up.

"Hmm, I like that look in your eyes. You're strong." Mary grinned slightly. "Is it true you lived as a suit of armor for some time?"

The young man nodded: "Yes, for 5 years."

"5 years? That's pretty long." Mary took another sip of her scotch, sighing pleased as it ran down her throat. To Al's surprise she didn't seem to find it unusual at all.

"... you're not going to ask how that's even possible?"

"Well, you aren't lying, my love, right?" The singer smiled at him. "To live in a body that's not yours … not even able to feel warmth anymore … didn't you ever loose your mind about it?"

Al shook his head.

"Sometimes my body pulled me back, but … no, to be honest - I wasn't good with dealing with it. It was only thanks to Ed. And everyone. They always treated me like a human, so I always felt like one." The younger Elric made a fist, having to smile when he remembered how much bigger his metallic one had been. He felt warmth rising up from deep within as he remembered how much his brother had gone through for him.

"You two are lucky to have each other." Mary played with her oversized locket, absentmindedly. "So you never lost your mind? … That's quite remarkable of your brother. To have done such a stable soul affixation at such a young age! And your body was at the gate the whole time?"

Alphonse's eyes widened as he realized that Mary seemed to know what she was talking about: "You know about the gate?"

"Ha ha, don't act so surprised!" Mary chuckled and patted him softly on the shoulder. "Just because I'm an outstanding singer doesn't mean I'm not knowledgeable about anything else!"

Al couldn't wipe his surprise off his face: "Don't tell me you're an alchemist, Mary!"

"Hell no! My dear Mister ..." She tapped her golden locket. "My first husband. He was one. You're bound to pick something up when you're married to an alchemist. I'm sure our lovely Winry is already able to recite all the main things."

"Oh, I see! … But how did you … don't tell me he opened the gate?" Al spilled some of his wine since he almost let his glass fall down

Mary snorted and crossed her legs.

"Don't be ridiculous! Nothing like that. He read about it in the notes of his former master, but I don't know any details."

"… I see." Alphonse slowly calmed down, but wasn't sure what to make of it.

Mary leaned forward and whispered: "Do you know that blond officer?" She nodded towards Havoc.

Al nodded slowly, hoping that Jean hadn't done anything stupid. Or that Mary didn't plan on doing something stupid with him.

"Is he single?" Mary grinned at him.

'The latter.' Alphonse thought. But at least she was her old self again, emitting the same strong aura as before.

"He actually is … as far as I'm informed."

"Wonderful!" Mary hugged Al briefly (but tightly) before she began to leave. "Let's talk later again, okay? Have some fun with your sweetie pie while I'm gone!"

"I've been replaced ..." Alphonse said to himself, before he finally got the drinks for him and Mei.

.ooOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo.

"Is that seat occupied?" Roy smiled gallantly at Winry and Edward, pulling the chair next to Winry to him.

"Yes, it is and it always will be if you're the one asking." Edward grimaced, not wanting to get teased by the Brigadier General. And that just had to be his motivation for coming to their table. The groom still had enough of that from his bachelor party.

But to Ed's dismay Mustang ignored him like he always did and seated himself next to the bride.

"Do you want some sparkling wine, Mr. Mustang?" Winry smiled at him, obviously happy he had joined them.

"Like I could say no if the beautiful bride asks!" Mustang grinned charmingly.

"Isn't Miss Riza with you?" Mei asked from the other side of the table. She had joined the newly wed couple at their table together with Alphonse.

Mustang looked away, a bored expression on his face. "She went to check on Catalina."

"She fled from you?" Edward started to chuckle, but he felt a high-heeled shoe stomp on his foot, putting a halt to his amusement.

"Ha ha!" Winry chuckled, not showing any sign of her violence towards her husband. "Rebecca is drinking a lot today, it sure is better Riza stops her before she gets as drunk as yesterday!"

Before Ed could question what the hell Winry was doing, she shushed him with a quick whisper to the side: "Don't you ruin this opportunity for me!"

"But Lieutenant Catalina-"

This time Winry pinched his leg under the table, so hard he thought she might have popped a vein or two. That was the kind of violence you had to live with when you hook up with a childhood friend ...

"Shhh!"

Edward could see the fire in her eyes – she was on to something.

The Brigadier General didn't seem to notice the exchange, Alphonse had started a conversation with him:

"Uh … Brigadier General? Did you by any chance saw Mary West?"

Ed whispered this time: "But Lieutenant Catalina is right there with John. No Captain as far the eye can see! Why can't I throw that in his face?"

"Actually, I did. She's with Havoc at the bar." Mustang answered Alphonse's question. He raised an eyebrow at the whispering of the happy couple.

"Just don't! I want to ask him a few things ..." Winry commanded with her mouth and pleaded with her eyes. Edward threw up his hands in defeat.

"Ah … she really did it." Alphonse sighed

"Apparently she just walked up to him and asked if he could light her cigarette. They've been drinking and flirting like crazy since then." The Brigadier General said in a bored voice while he glanced at his silver pocket watch. "The Captain and I had the pleasure of standing right next to them, so we got a good view."

Mei seemed to be the only one truly shocked: "What? Mrs. West and that officer Havoc?"

The young girl stood up – on her chair – to affirm the unexpected union and nearly fell down when she spotted them.

"Oh my god, she kissed him!" Mei squealed in surprise.

"Lucky bastard." Mustang grunted, not even turning his head to see it for himself.

"That was just a quick peck on the lips." Winry seemed a bit let down, she had jumped up to see them, leaning on Ed for standing support.

The Xingese girl slowly sat down again, Al took her hand and patted it softly.

"B-but isn't she like 15 years older?"

Winry gave a shrug and exclaimed casually: "But she certainly doesn't look like it. She's undeniably hot."

The men at the table nodded in agreement.

"Alphonse – you too?" Mei whimpered dramatically. "I see that's why you let her hold you up for such a long time before … she hugged you so passionately, too ..."

"You were watching me?" It slipped out of Al before he could focus on the main issue. "Er, no! I mean- She just looks good for her age, that's all! Y-you were surprised about her age, too- I mean! It's not like I like her or anything- I- " Sweat drops were starting to form on Al's forehead.

"You look so wonderful today!" Al took her hand and kissed it frantically.

His girlfriend examined him sceptically. "You mean it?"

"Of course, I do!" Al's cheeks reddened a bit as he felt his declaration coming: "I love you, Mei! And no one else!"

"Oh, Alphonse-sama!" She squealed – happily this time – and threw herself into his arms to glomp him. "I love you, too!"

"Here, General!" Winry finally handed Mustang the promised sparkling wine – and only spilled a few drops in the process.

Mustang took the glass with a smile. "I'm only a Brigadier General, but you can go ahead and call me that. It will be the truth soon enough! Ha, just joking!" The Brigadier General laughed out loud.

Edward bit his lip to stop himself from commenting. Winry's hand was still positioned on his lap and it didn't mean any good this time around that he was sure of.

His bride however joined in and laughed as well, she raised her glass happily.

"A toast!" The bride was turning her back to Edward, only focusing on Mustang. He seemed to enjoy that and grinned, raising his glass as well.

"A toast!" The high ranked officer repeated, amused.

Winry looked him in the eyes as she spoke: "To love – to true love, the biggest gift of all."

The bride could see the change in Mustang's eyes. She had to smile as they clinked glasses.

"... to love." The dark haired man echoed simply, but he continued in his previous grand tone: "The biggest gift of all!"

Edward wasn't entirely sure what his wife was after, but his guess was that it had to do with Captain Hawkeye. To become jealous when his bride deeply locked eyes with a philanderer like Mustang and toasted "love" didn't even cross his mind.

Winry had only begun her strike and was preparing to lure him in slowly to get the information she was after. To her dismay that chance was taken from her.

"I'm sincerely sorry to disturb- Brigadier General Roy Mustang?" A waiter had approached them from behind, bowing slightly.

"Yes?" The man in question turned around. Mustang already had an idea what he must have come for and stood up, ready to follow the waiter.

"A phone call for you, Sir. A Lieutenant Maverick."

.ooOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo.

A little boy, around 6 years old, was lost. He had just wanted to play some more with his friends – so he had sneaked out after dinner and had gone back to the playground. But he somehow didn't find his way back home now. He must have turned left instead of right somewhere, not paying attention because he had tried to walk on the lines of the sidewalk only. Before he knew it, it was dark and late into the evening – or even night already?

He had no idea where he was. None of the buildings seemed familiar. The little Bennet had lost his way.

The young boy stopped at another corner he didn't recognize and finally started to cry, not being able to hold his panic in anymore.

Bennet wasn't lucky today.

The streets where deserted. He had landed in an industrial corner and all workers had left hours ago.

'Benny' as his mother called him tenderly, wasn't that far away from home actually. His mother was also already searching for him desperately, screaming her heart out. Only a bit more and she would be close enough for him to hear her cries.

But Bennet wasn't lucky today.

He ran into someone by chance. It was Emma Johnson.

The boy had run into her full force after turning left at another unknown corner and fell to the ground as he hit her.

Bennet first wanted to apologize but then he looked up at the woman in front of him. Blood all over her, her mouth was distorted into a maniacally grin, deep scratches were on her cheeks – he screamed in horror at the sight.

The little boy wanted to run away, sensing the imminent danger. But he wasn't lucky tonight.

He was too slow to react, too shocked to move immediately, too young to shake of his fear and to turn it into adrenalin and use it for his escape. The woman in front of him didn't need long to react.

She screamed as well when she threw the little boy against a nearby wall forcefully.

Before Bennet was even able to lift his head up fully, he felt Emma's hand hitting his head hard.

From a few blocks away the screams of Bennet's mother were starting to reach the place where the little boy was leaning against a wall. But they didn't reach him.

Bennet wasn't lucky today.

.ooOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo.

Author's Note:
I'm pondering if I should fry puppies next time. Good idea?

Seriously though, the story is starting to pick up from now on. Yes, the plot! The whole mystery will start to unravel, so stay tuned! (of course our heroes play a key role :P)
I'm actually totally psyched about the next chapter, so I hope I'll finish it soon. It's gonna be longer again, too. This chapter is pretty much just a bridge chapter, sorry D:

Of course thank you all for reading! Alerting! Reviewing! And being awesome in general!
I appreciate everything I get from you guys – appreciate it lots and lots! :x

No, the subtle bold-ing of "Reviewing!" is not a subliminal message of course … :D
You're free to leave me a review, though. Won't hold it against ya. I swear!

cheers,
the striped one~