Okay, so, the last chapter was a bit depressing . . . sorry. Anyhow, it's a new chapter, a new day, so let's make it a good one.

I THANK YOU ALL for your reviews. I had 38 reviews the last time I checked, which is16 more than the story that's in second place.

So, there's a bit of a time jump in this chapter. If I take things day by day it'll get really slow in boring. So, we're a week ahead!

-o-O-o-

September 4, 2011

Dear Diary,

Even though I told Hohenheim that I wasn't going to be telling anyone about their secret, I ended up telling Mom. I mean, that's okay, right? It's not like she's going to be telling anyone. She had confronted me about why I had been so listless all weekend, so I told her. She didn't even believe me at first. But, seeing as I hardly ever lie to her (except for a few nights ago); I think I convinced her in the end. . .

September 5, 2011

Dear Diary,

Why must things be so awkward? I couldn't even look Ed or Al in the eyes. We hardly talked, and even Katherine asked if something had happened. When we couldn't answer, she jumped to conclusions and assumed that Ed and I had been going out, but broken up. Of course, I blushed and told her that it was nothing like that. Unlike my mother yesterday, Katherine didn't believe me.

September 9, 2011

Dear Diary,

I'm sorry that I haven't written all week. I've just sort of forgotten to. All week, my mom's been coming home from work in the lab in a worse state than she normally does. What's been going on there? I remember my mom saying approximately a week ago that some guy had disappeared. Was it about that? Have they found him yet? My mom won't tell me anything- she only shoots me these weird looks. I really wish I knew what was going on!

-o-

September 10, 2011

Karmyn closed her diary with a snap. She usually hated reading her diary entries, as she would often get extremely embarrassed over what was written. She didn't know why she had decided to all of a sudden. It was no different from all the times before. Setting the notebook down on her side-table, she took the time to examine her room, something that she hadn't done since the disastrous events that had taken place a week ago.

Her room was still plastered with FMA posters- she hadn't had the heart to take them down, even though the images of Edward and Alphonse still hurt. The anime pictures were still hung over her bed, staring down at her. The blue carpet was littered with chemistry books and empty test tubes. Karmyn knew that she should pick them up, but she always forgot.

Heaving a large sigh, she got off her bed and descended the stairs. Walking to the kitchen, her fists clenched as she passed the place where she had confronted the Elrics. Would that hallway always haunt her? She hoped not.

When she walked by the living room, she stopped. Looking back, she saw her mother seated on the couch, the television remote in her hand. That confused Karmyn, as the television itself wasn't turned on. She entered the room tentatively, softly calling out, "Mom?"

Marie Dallas jumped, looking towards the sound of the noise. She relaxed when she realized it was just Karmyn. "Oh, Karmyn. It's you," she said. Did Karmyn sense relief in her voice?

"Mom, what's wrong? You're acting weird," she said, taking a seat on the same couch her mother sat on.

"It's nothing, sweetie."

Karmyn was seriously freaked. "Now I know there's something wrong. You never call me anything like 'sweetie.'" Glancing around the room, her eyes landed on the DVD case sitting on the coffee table. When she picked it up, she was surprised to find that it was one of her Fullmetal Alchemist videos.

"Mom, seriously, you're freaking me out! What's with your attitude? What's with the 'sweetie'? What's with this?" she exclaimed, shaking the DVD case.

Karmyn's mom sighed. "How would you like to come to the lab with me today?" she asked her daughter. Karmyn was surprised. It had been years since she'd been to the lab with her mother.

"O-okay!" she agreed. "When?"

"Now," was Marie's answer.

Karmyn was still utterly confused about what was going on. However, she decided not to ask and instead put her jacket (which was red, but not floor-length) and boots (black Uggs) and waited for her mother at the door. As she was waiting, her phone buzzed.

It was a text from Katherine. Want 2 come over 2 my house 2day?

She couldn't have asked at a worse time. Sry, she texted back, Im going 2 the lab w/mom.

Kk, was the answer.

That was pointless, Karmyn couldn't help but think. Two minutes later, her mom was ready.

The forty-five minute car ride passed in silence. Karmyn stared out the window, thinking of various things.

As much as she tried to avoid it, her thoughts kept turning back to the Elrics and FMA. What were they doing now? Had they forgotten about her already? How were the preparations for the move to Zimbabwe going?

Not that I care, she told herself. It was none of her business, after all. She was determined that she wouldn't have anything more to do with the Elric brothers.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Marie Dallas parked the car in the employee's parking lot. She and Karmyn got out, and she locked it. Karmyn looked up at her mom, who once again had that odd expression on her face. She struggled to keep up as they walked briskly toward the entrance to the lab.

By the time they reached the doors, Karmyn had fallen far enough behind that she was stopped when she tried to enter. Luckily, her mom looked back and saw what had happened.

"This is my daughter, Mr. Carson, or do you not remember?" she told the man icily.

The man's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh! Karmyn! It's been so long! You were so much smaller the last time I saw you. I'm sorry, go ahead."

Okay, that was creepy, Karmyn thought, considering that I don't remember him . . .

Karmyn followed her mom through the labyrinth of corridors that riddled the lab. This time, she made sure to match pace. Finally, she and her mom got on an elevator. Marie pressed the down arrow, and the two of them waited for the doors to open.

When they did, it was another five minutes of white-washed passageways and confounding turns before they reached their destination: A room full of white-coated chemists. Karmyn was getting sick of white.

The other chemists turned when she and her mother entered the room. Apparently, her mother was the leader of this team. There were a few faces that Karmyn was familiar with from her days at the lab years ago. If she remembered correctly, she was ten at that time.

She watched as her mother talked with the team of scientists. When she listened carefully, she could make out snippets of the conversation.

"It's finished, then?"

"Element 116 . . ."

". . . red . . ."

". . ."

Karmyn didn't understand the last one. When she looked up, she saw her mother beckoning her over.

"Karmyn," her mother said as soon as she was in earshot, "We are at the point in our research on Element 116 in which we combine the atoms to create something we can see. After this, we will be testing its reactions to other elements on the periodic table."

Karmyn knew this already, so she nodded. Her mom continued.

"Considering that you have been in on this project for near on your entire life, the team and I thought that you may want to see what Element 116 actually looks like. Therefore, I brought you here."

Ohh, so that's why her mom had invited her to the lab. "Okay," she said, "May I see it?"

"Yes, it's right over there. We don't think it's radioactive, but please don't touch it."

Karmyn walked over to where the team had pointed out. Looking through the glass it was located behind, she gasped.

The pebble-sized mass that the scientists had created was red, and seemed to hum with power. If she didn't know better . . . wait. She thought back through the events of the past week. She whirled back around and locked eyes with her mother, who had a knowing expression on her face. So that's why . . . earlier . . .

"Please excuse me," she said to the gathered group of whitecoats.

With that, she ran outside the room and switched on her cell phone. She hastily dialed the number that she had memorized, and tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the recipient to answer.

-o-O-o-

"Karmyn?"

Karmyn nearly died from relief when she heard that voice. Her knees were weak and she slid down the wall to sit on the floor.

"Oh, thank God you picked up."

"Why the hell are you calling?"

"Edward," she said urgently, "Where are you right now?"

"We're waiting for our flight. . ."

"You were moving today?"

"Yes, we were able to get everything sorted out sooner than we expected . . ."

Karmyn could hear a shuffling noise in the background, as well as Al's voice asking Ed about who was calling.

"Listen, I need you and Al to come to the Boston Researcher's Lab (A/N not an actual place, people!) RIGHT NOW."

"But our flight . . ."

"I don't care if you miss your effing flight!" Karmyn yelled into the mouthpiece, losing her temper.

"Father . . ."

"He can come too!"

"But . . ."

"Listen, Edward. Do the words 'Red' and 'Stone' mean anything to you?" she spat.

"Red . . . stone?"

Karmyn hung up before he could say anything more. She hoped that he could get his thick skull around what she had said.

If he truly wanted to return home, he would.

-o-O-o-

Bwap bwap bwaaaaaap . . .

I hope you all like where this story is going so far. I know I like writing it! So. Opinions? Ideas? Plain old blabber that I won't be able to understand? I'll take anything!

Pikakapi!