Chapter 8: A dash of hope

Edward waited patiently and quietly, leaning against the wall beside Lily the next morning while she placed and call to Central. He yawned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes as Izumi passed them and headed toward the kitchen counter to begin breakfast.

"Hello, is Dr. Hiasen in this morning?" Lily asked sleepily.

Ed smiled lazily. Lily sounded positively cute first thing in the morning when she was still half asleep and this morning was no exception. He had no idea how long she'd been up last night before coming to the kitchen, but it must have been longer than a mere hour for she looked more than ready to crawl back in bed and sleep away the morning.

However, when he'd awoken this morning he'd decided that they'd start to put his idea into action. As far as Lily was concerned, they were here for adventure and, as he'd told her this morning, to look for this Doctor Henry Talbot and any other doctors that might be able to help Riza. As far as Roy and Riza were concerned Ed and Lily were here to discover what it was that was bothering Lily and get her to spill it so she could move on. Only Izumi, Sige, and Mason knew the truth, that it was all of that. He had a lot of work cut out for him and he didn't think too much time to complete it.

The pendulum was swinging heavily upon his heart and getting heavier and closer to ceasing every day. Once it stopped, Edward sensed it would be the end of everything he'd grown to love and cherish in these eight semi-peaceful years. He didn't think he could bear suffering like that again and if he couldn't… His amber eyes glanced to Lily; he didn't think she'd survive it. Oh she was tough, made it through a traumatic experience as a mere child, but he didn't know how she'd fair with losing someone so close to her. She still had issues with abandonment, issues he didn't think would ever fade.

Lily nodded and nodded again, hiding a yawn behind her hand before tucking her long shinny hair behind her ear. "And you promise not to tell my parents a thing?"

Suddenly she glared and for some reason to Edward it was worse than any previous glare. He could feel the flames of hell rising up to doom the world and she didn't even know much flame alchemy yet. He shuddered involuntarily.

"What do you mean you're going to tell my father? Dr. Hiasen…" there was a long pause and Edward shifted.

Lily perked a brow and Ed glanced to Izumi. His teacher was watching from the stove where she had an egg poised over the skillet ready to crack it. Suddenly Lily sighed in relief. "Thank you, I'll owe you one for this. Edward and I are only trying to help her. Good bye." And she hung up the phone. "From what Dr. Hiasen could dig up, it looks like Dr. Talbot is here in the south, in Kishuwa but he's not sure. He could also be in Larneth."

Ed nodded if they left after breakfast they could get in a cab since that would be more discreet than the train. Roy would have people watching the train lines now that he had their location and well Southern Headquarters wasn't that far from here, he wouldn't doubt that their father had contacts down here. However that would be a bit expensive…

Hmm… Maybe they could hitch a ride part of the way and walk some of the time and catch a cab on the way back. That would due; it would also be more generous upon both their pocket books. Roy only gave Lily an allowance and while it covered cab faire in Central and the occasional book, a meal out, and even some shopping, it wasn't that much, not that Lily ever really spent a lot of it, no she had most of it saved up in bank account.

And he certainly didn't get an allowance, just a pay check and funding for alchemy and while he wasn't a big spender, he still didn't have a lot, especially if they had to make a trip to two different cities and catch a ride home on the train. Also he liked to leave room for emergencies because he never knew what might happen.

He nodded again and pointed upstairs. "Go take a bath or what ever you need to do. After breakfast we're moving out."

Lily smirked. "So cute Big Brother, you're starting to sound like Daddy."

Ed twitched. "Am not,"

"Hmmm," was all she said before lifting Logan from his new favorite place, before the fresh dish of milk, milk Izumi had slipped him. He yipped and squirmed and Lily sighed before placing him upon the floor. "You're spoiled,"

Ed rolled his eyes and shook his head, moving to help Izumi with breakfast. Lily left them and he could feel his teacher's eyes upon him as he reached for the plates.

"You're leaving today," she said.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Be careful Ed, I promised your father I would look after you."

"We're just going to look for a doctor, but…" He glanced back to see if Lily was near. "I won't let anything happen to her again."

Ed glanced back at Lily to see if she was keeping up. They decided it would be best to leave Logan with Izumi since he didn't think they could catch a ride with a fox even if he was on a leash.

She was, in fact she was right behind him, sweat beading her face and neck as much as it was beading his. Damn it was hot down here. He was warmer in the south and that was a given, but he hadn't thought it would be this hot.

"Want some water?" he asked.

Lily nodded and held out her hand for their canteen. Ed passed it along after digging it from the small bag of food he'd brought for their excursion. He paused in the road and waited for his turn. When he was finished he put it away. "Sorry we had to walk so far. I thought we'd get a longer ride."

She shrugged. "It's okay, you think he'll be in Kishuwa?"

Ed shrugged. Larneth had been empty of all things Dr. Talbot related. Oh he'd been there once a few months ago, stayed about a month helping out in the small hospital, but then he'd left and that had been six months ago. "I hope so, if not then we're back to square one."

He sighed as Lily moved over to the side of the dirt road and sat upon the ground. "If you're tired there's a tree up ahead, at least there you'll have some shade." She looked hot, tired, and kind of sad. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Lily shrugged again and pulled her knees up under her chin. "Will we stay in Kishuwa for the night?"

Brows furrowed, Ed plopped down beside her. "Yeah, it's too far to walk back and I don't think we could get a ride, even a cab this far out. Hungry?"

"No," she paused. "Daddy was drinking the other night. We have to find Dr. Talbot Ed, we have too."

He turned to her and met frightened obsidian eyes. He couldn't say they would, couldn't lie because who knew if they would. But he didn't know what to say that wasn't a lie or what could turn out to be a lie. "We'll do our best; it's all we can do."

"I feel like if we lose Mom we lose Daddy too." She breathed. "and even though Alphonse said I could come over anytime…"

A little wounded, Ed slipped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm not going anywhere, you'll still have me. Besides I won't let Dad lose himself at the bottom of a bottle, not when he's got us. And we'll try for Mom, we're not done yet Lily. We still have options to look at."

"Like what? Human transmutation?" She asked.

Ed stiffened; she was old enough to know now, the truth any way, all of it. "No, we can't… I know you want to, but we just can't Lily. I've been there and tried it. I tried to bring back my mother, but I lost my arm and leg, and Al's body instead. It only caused more pain for us. It's dangerous."

"Okay," she whispered but Ed didn't think that was the end of it.

"Lily, promise me you won't."

She shifted and lay her head upon his shoulder. "I promise, I won't big brother."

"Okay, so are you ready?" He asked. He'd feel much more at ease if they got away from the human transmutation subject. If she was asking about then she'd probably already looked into it and that scared the shit out of him.

Lily nodded and they rose, dusting the dirt from their clothes, and then started walking again.

When they arrived in Kishuwa Ed kept an eye on his little sister. She'd never really been exposed to poverty before and Kishuwa was a very poor town. He also kept an eye upon her because there were Ishbalin's here, many in fact. An Ishbalin had killed her mother, he had no idea how she's react if one approached her, since she'd never seen one in person.

As they walked through town, he kept his eyes open for an inn and for anything that might look like a hospital or clinic while the eyes of the town's people watched them pass.

Suddenly he felt very alone and turned to find Lily a few paces back, kneeling down to pick up a sadly half flat, round ball that had apparently rolled near her feet.

"Sorry Miss," a little Ishbalin boy said, running over to retrieve it.

Ed stilled as Lily looked from the ball to the boy then relaxed as she smiled and held it out.

"That's alright," She replied. "What game are you playing?"

"Football," The boy replied with a blushing smile.

"Are you winning?" She asked.

"Tommy come here," A man called.

The boy turned, "Just a minute Dad,"

"No now," The man ordered sternly.

"I gotta go, see ya." The boy said and ran off to join a tall Ishbalin man waiting with some kids. The man didn't look too happy and immediately began to scold his son in not so hushed tones about talking to strangers, though Ed bet it there was more to it.

Ed eased back to his sister's side and took her hand. "Come on,"

"I wanted to fix their ball," Lily replied as he tugged upon her hand, urging her away.

"That's not a good idea, not here anyway. We shouldn't use any alchemy here. The Ishbalin's-"

"Don't like it, I know. It goes against what their God mandates. I just,"

"I know," Ed replied with a smile. He couldn't blame her for wanting to make the ball better; it would be a very nice thing to do, however, it might get them into trouble.

They found the inn not to long later. It was pretty shabby just like everything else but Lily took an immediate liking to it. There were some Ishbalin relics along one wall, probably a shrine. She didn't touch them, just smiled and admired them. The inn keep seemed a little nervous as then Lily turned to them. "Look big brother this is Ishbala. Even though it's at least one hundred and fifty years old it's still in prime condition and so lovely."

Ed smiled, looking at the statue rimmed with gold. "Yeah, you ready to get some rest now?" He scratched his head. "I think you're making people nervous."

Lily nodded. "Sure," She came to his side and took his hand then followed him up the creaky staircase.

As soon as Ed got in the room he locked the door then sealed it with alchemy.

"Well that's a little excessive don't you think?" Lily asked from behind him.

"Maybe," Ed replied. "But let's eat some dinner, take baths, and get some rest. You can shower or take a bath first."

The next morning found Ed and Lily both rising late and eating a meager meal in the lobby of the inn and it was food Ed had packed, crackers and cheese. Thankfully before they'd left, and thanks to Al's invention of ice packs to keep things cool, their breakfast wasn't spoiled.

"We'll have to get some supplies." Ed commented.

Lily nodded with a bright smile, the kind she used to smile. "Alright,"

Ed perked a brow. "You're awfully chipper this morning."

"Well we're going to find Dr. Talbot this morning and then Mom will be okay right?"

Ed wet his lips and reached for his glass of water. "Uh, Lily,"

She shushed him and waved him away with her hand. "I know I shouldn't get my hopes up big brother."

He nodded, feeling eyes upon them. It was the innkeeper and that Ishbalin man from yesterday afternoon, they were whispering. Those two had been watching them for the last five or so minutes since they'd come down from their room. He didn't like it.

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear you mention Dr. Talbot." The innkeeper said, finally making his way over to them.

Lily smiled that charming Mustang smile. "Oh yes you could, you just didn't want too, but why do ask?"

The man was quiet a moment then sat himself down upon the arm rest of Ed's chair. Ed didn't like him being so close but if he had information, he could and would tolerate it.

"You're a clever girl, what brings you to see the good doctor?"

Lily perked a brow with a smirk. "Well if you were eavesdropping then you already know, don't you?"

Damn, Ed thought, maybe he should have her along to handle all the socializing during his missions… since Al seemed to think him… inept in that department. He wasn't inept; he just didn't like dancing around with people. He just didn't have the time to waste. But his sister was doing pretty good for this morning.

Now the Ishbalin man made his way over. "Pardon, you said your mother was sick."

"She is," Lily replied. "Her doctor thinks the assistance of Dr. Talbot is needed."

"That'll be a little difficult since the Doctor has… retired." The Ishbalin replied.

"Retired?" Ed asked. "Well he can un-retire long enough to help our mother, we won't take no for an answer."

"Brother," Lily said softly. "Do you know where he lives so we might speak with him? If he doesn't want to come with us then we won't bother him anymore."

Ed had to pass her a discreet smile, she was so sincere and maybe it wasn't an act but he'd be damned if they didn't return with the man. He didn't want to watch Lily and Roy fall, didn't want himself of Al to have to feel the pain of burying another mother so soon.

The innkeeper and the Ishbalin man exchanged glances.

"What?" Ed asked.

"I'll take you to see the doctor." The Ishbalin man replied. "This way,"

If Edward and Lily expected to be led to a small clinic or even a house or a shack as most of the residences were, they were greatly mistaken. Instead the Ishbalin man led them to the town cemetery and pointed to a lonely grave with the name Talbot inscribed upon its limestone surface.

"This is where the doctor resides now." The Ishbalin said coldly. "He's dead so you came for nothing."

Ed blinked in astonishment. Dead?! He turned to find the Ishbalin man gone. He turned from left to right, looked behind him but the man was no where to be found. That wasn't enough! He wanted answers.

"He was so cold about it Edward… So cold and unfeeling as if Dr. Talbot didn't mean anything, was just a passerby with no value at all, another face in the crowd." Lily's voice said and it held such sorrow.

"Lily," He began but she slowly fell to her to her knees upon the grave. "We'll… we'll find someone else. We've still got time and Dr. Hiasen won't give up."

"No, I don't suppose he will. Daddy won't let him, but…"

Ed knelt beside her. "But what?" Come on Lily don't give up now, we've barely started, there's still time.

Lily shook her head. "I… She's suffering… How many dead ends will there be before she doesn't have to be in pain anymore?" she turned to him. "Ed you saw her, you saw!"

Caught up in her desperation and heavily leaking emotions, feeling them as well, Ed held her face in his hands. "I did see but I'm not going to stop trying or give up the hope that she'll make it, that'll we'll find something to save her. We just have to get up and move to the next possibility."

"But what is there?!" She shouted. "Hiasen didn't give us anymore doctors to find!"

The sound of a foot shifting upon the gravel sounded behind them and Ed turned. The Ishbalin man was back. "What do you want?" He snapped.

"Your mother really is sick?"

"Yeah, what do you care?" Ed bit.

The Ishbalin pointed to Ed's pocket. "We thought you were from the state, poking into Talbot's matters. He was killed not too long ago. No one saw anything or heard anything. His house was ransacked and it looked like someone broke in and like he put up a fight. Since there are a lot of Ishbalin's here like me, we've all been a little on edge. It would be easy for the state to pin it all on us especially since Talbot used to work for the state. Come on back to the inn, we'll talk more there."

Lily was up before Ed could say a word, much less move himself. A million questions ran through his head all at once but he followed them to the inn.

He got the full story on Talbot, not that there was really anything more than what the Ishbalin told him. Then he told them about Riza. They didn't have any information to help them, let alone knew of another doctor with in twenty miles. They didn't even have a doctor for the town anymore.

There wasn't anything more to do here, nothing more to say, Talbot was dead and they'd return home empty handed. So Ed and Lily grabbed their suitcase ate lunch and made way out of town. If they could make it to Larneth before the sun set they could snag a carriage or a cab to Dublith.

They made it by late afternoon and stopped long enough to dine in small restaurant. Lily hadn't really said anything but Ed really didn't think she would. She looked as depressed and disappointed as he felt and even he didn't feel like talking. He wished Alphonse were here with them.

Getting a cab wasn't going to happen, all the cabs were either out of town or being used for the town. So their only option was the train or a carriage ride.

Ed smiled as they stood outside the carriage station. "I know you haven't ever ridden in a carriage. The seats aren't always so comfortable but at least it's something different and new. Bet those girls at your school can't say they've ridden in one of these."

Lily smirked. "No they can't, they're city girls and wouldn't dream of roughing it in the boondocks."

Ed perked a brow as he pulled his wallet from his pocket and headed for the payment window. "You trying to tell me something?"

"Just pay the faire, I'm tired and would like a nap."

Ed nodded and requested the next carriage to Dublith, which was to leave in ten minutes and paid. They weren't lucky to have the carriage to themselves. There was a small family of three riding with them, so he and Lily couldn't really talk.

Roy hung up the phone with a heavy sigh. He wasn't used to this… quietness, this stillness within his home. Sure Black Hyate was having fun in chasing Al's cat Janie when ever he thought no one was paying attention, but it really all was just play, not that Janie was ever in the mood. She only seemed to want to sleep, eat, and be petted. Al sure had her spoiled.

And Runa, Lily's three legged kitten had searched the house over and over again calling for, who he wasn't sure. He gave her as much attention as he could when he could find her and yesterday he'd rescued her from the top shelf in his study.

Wynn the owl seemed to do just fine on her own and did a great job of keeping the mice from the house. The fish were, well they were fish always swimming around and around.

The only house guests to come were the Hughes's and Jason Mathews, who Roy still wasn't too comfortable with. The boy was nice enough but there was something about him… It didn't really register until he'd had time to really mentally examine his visit to the house the second time and his awed interest in his daughter. There was something very strange in the way he seemed so… should he say fascinated with learning that Lily was an alchemist, wanting to know little things.

He shook his head wither way the house seemed so still without Lily, Ed, and Alphonse here to whisper and laugh, fill it with their voices and sounds. It was all so peaceful and hushed. Riza never had been a loud person and lately, she'd been staying home more often, staying in bed to rest. And she wasn't quite herself. It made him feel terribly alone and useless… frightened.

And now this. What ever it was Edward was showing Lily, not that Izumi offered any real detail, sure was taking a long time. It had been almost four days since he'd last spoken with them. Four days. It was too long, even Alphonse had called every two just to talk, to inquire how everyone was.

He didn't like this.

"Roy?" Riza's soft voice called from the entrance way of the den.

He turned with a smile as he was always happy to see her, even when she came bearing paperwork. And tonight she stood there, golden hair down, leaning against the archway in a cream colored, satin night gown. It was the one he'd given her for her birthday a few years ago. "You're up awfully late, shouldn't you be in bed?"

Riza gave him a soft smile. "It's a little lonely without you there to keep me warm. Did you talk to them?"

Roy shook his head and made his way toward her, touching a lock of her soft hair. It always amazed him, the color, the way it always shinned and never dulled. The way it always felt like soft satin or silk in between his fingers and upon his face. How it smelled of jasmine. Lily's hair smelled of jasmine now, some shampoo Riza had always used and always liked. Lily had wanted to smell like her stepmother when she was little, had wanted to smell pretty.

Roy remembered that conversation one winter evening. Ed and Al had been away on assignment and Lily had been sitting in the bathroom watching Riza brush her hair after a bath. She'd asked Riza how she always smelled so pretty, like flowers. Riza had smiled and informed her, it was her shampoo and soap and then told her she could used the shampoo and soap when ever she wanted.

It was a funny thing, all the women in his life always smelled of jasmine. His mother, Sable, Riza, and from that night on Lily. But he'd never come across many others who chose that fragrance. Perhaps it was a sign, not that he really believed in such unscientific things.

"No, Izumi said they were exploring Yok Island. Apparently there aren't any phones there."

"Well I'm sure they'll have many stories to tell us when they come home." She frowned. "Where is Yok Island?"

Roy blinked a moment in confusion. She knew where it was, Ed had told her once when talking about Izumi and Riza had one very sharp mind and memory. He told her anyway, noting it as something to tell Dr. Hiasen later. There had been a few other instances where Riza asked questions to answers she knew the answers too but seemed to not be able to remember, simple things, and even some everyday things. And those head aches, the vomiting, it had only worsened in the time Ed and Lily had left. "Near Dublith,"

"Oh," She smiled and touched his cheek. "Come to bed?"

He closed the remaining distance between them, his heart a little heavy, and kissed her soft lips. "Missed you," He whispered and took her mouth again with a tone of deep desire and passion that embodied the love her felt for her. "Love you,"

"I love you too, we're alone tonight." She breathed against his lips.

"You don't have to ask." He replied and stopped enough to lift her. Then he carried her up the stairs and to their bedroom.

"How are you doing?" Daniel Carter asked the young man across the table. He looked so much like his father it was uncanny so almost hard to believe that he was the son of that vile woman. "It's been awhile since I've seen you, you sure have grown."

The young man shrugged and adjusted his glasses. "I've been moving around and on my own for awhile. I got a good job now and am doing pretty well. I work at the Zoo in accounting. How are you?"

Daniel smiled, shifting and scratching his arm. What ever the laundry people were using now on these prison uniforms sure made his skin itch. "I'm doing well. I'm happy for you Jason."

"May I ask you something?" Jason asked.

"Sure,"

"Did you really love my mother?"

Daniel sighed and rubbed his face. "Yes, I did. But she did some things that…"

"I know what she did," Jason muttered. "And I know what she did to me. No one ever has to remind me of that."

Daniel reached across the table and rested his hand upon Jason's folded hands. "What are you trying to say?"

Jason shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know. She cast me away like trash so why were you trying to get her to accept me when she didn't want me?"

"Because you're her son Jason."

"She wasn't fit,"

"Maybe not, but she must have loved you enough to mention you to me." Daniel replied. This had always been the struggle with Jason. Always the 'why' questions. Hell if he knew what was going through Anise's mind. The woman he'd thought he'd know turned out to be a monster. As it stood it had been a good thing Jason had never lived with her.

"Why did she abandon me and take my cousin?"

How did he know about Lily? Did someone tell him or did he learn about it through his own digging after disappearing before that whole mess of Mustang getting his daughter back began? He'd certainly never told Jason about Lily out of fear of hurting the boy. He'd intended to make some sort of deal where it was kept quiet, hoped Roy Mustang would understand it was for Jason's sake and go with it, hell he'd intended upon marrying Anise before learning what she really was.