Chapter Ten - Dreams and Kisses

Light flashed on and off in the dark room, startling young fifteen-year-old Ed. Spinning around, frantically searching for something –but WHAT? – as his wide eyes scanned the darkness.

"Ed…"

Turning, Ed stared in horror as he saw his mother, blood seeming to ooze from every pore as horrible black arms grabbed her and pulled her back into the dark. Reaching out to him, she said softly, "Why couldn't you save me…?"

"NOOOO!" he screamed, running to grab her, only to grasp the thin air.

"Edward…"

Gasping, he looked over his shoulder to see a chimera…Nina and Alexander.

"Wanna play…Edward?" it asked. Again, the horrible clawing arms reached out and slowly dragged it back into the black.

"NO! STOP!" Ed screamed again, running towards it.

"Ed…"

His heart racing a million miles an hour, Ed kept seeing faces, the people he once knew and loved being dragged back into death. His mother…Nina and Alexander…Maes Hughes…his father…Alphonse Heidrick…

"BROTHER!" Al screamed, his voice bouncing off of invisible walls. "Brother, please!"

"AL!" Ed cried, reaching out to grab his little brother's hand as he was taken away. "NOOOO!"

Cruel laughter filled his ears as he collapsed onto the floor. He knew at once that it was Envy. "Really, Ed, you realize that this is all your fault?"

"No…no…" he whimpered, his eyes stinging, his stomach twisted in a knot. "I couldn't save them…"

"No, you couldn't," Envy smirked, rubbing in the guilt. "You're pretty stupid and worthless when you think about it…"

"SHUT UP!" Ed cried, spinning to punch the homunculi, but missed.

This made Envy laugh. "Oh, please! You really think that an old fart like you could do anything to me?"

Ed froze, the words hitting him hard. "W-what…?" Looking down at his hands, his right became hard and cold while the other became gnarled and crooked. The beneath him disintegrated and he fell through, screaming as he reached upwards for help. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!"

"ED!"

Gasping, his eyelids flew open. His body catapulted like a jackknife, covering in sweat. His bare chest felt the cold air hit his moist skin, assuring him that he had awoken from a nightmare. He'd fallen asleep on the couch, wearing nothing but his trousers, his red bathrobe acting as a blanket. He sucked in deep breaths, his eyes watering. "Not again…"

"Ed?"

His heart stopped for a fraction of a second before moving his head. Syren kneeled on the floor, a bewildered and worried expression on her face. Her chocolate hair came cascading around her face, her large brown eyes focused on him. She wore a flimsy t-shirt and snug pants for pajamas. He jerked away, grimacing. "Dammit! Why'd she have to come now?"

"Ed, are you-?" she started, reaching out to touch him as she stood up.

"Go away," he growled, staring at the wall before him. Lightning and thunder raged outside, rain pelting the exterior of the building. His stomach felt like acid was bubbling inside, burning through his insides. He didn't want her to see him like this…now it was too late.

"W-what?" she asked, her voice tiny, her face pale.

"I said, 'go away'," he repeated, avoiding her eyes at all costs.

"But, I heard you crying out, and I figured something was wrong, so…"

"DAMMIT, SYREN!" he yelled, jumping off of the couch and onto his feet. Through the curtained window, lightning flashed, showing their faces every-so-often. "Why can't you leave me be? I don't want to see you right now!" he snapped. The moment those words left his mouth, he instantly regretted it. She looked as though he'd shot her in the heart, her eyes wide in shock, tears forming. "S-Syren, I-…"

A loud "SLAP" filled his ears, his face thrust to the side. A stinging sensation covered his left cheek. He blinked, shocked. Syren's face was now stained with tears as she angrily pulled her hand away from him.

"You jerk! I know my face makes you angry, but do you have to be so cruel? If I'm such a burden, why do you keep me? And don't give me that crap that you need me to take care of the boys! I hate it when you're hurting and you won't let me help!"

…"Ed, is something wrong?" Trisha asked as she saw her son look nervously towards the dark closet door.

"I hate it when you guys won't tell me what's going on!" Winry cried as she ran away from the injured brothers.

"It's alright, you two," Izumi Curtis said softly as she hugged them. "You don't have to hold back the tears anymore."…

Syren inhaled heavily as she realized what she'd done. Looking down in shame, she mumbled, "I…I'm sorry. I'll leave you now…" A gasp escaped her lips as Ed fell to his knees, his head bowed. "Ed?"

"I'm sorry," he whispered, tears running down his own face. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

Her heart melted at once. "Oh, Ed…" His head pressed against her stomach, she began to run her fingers through his golden hair, caressing his scalp as she combed out knots. "It's ok…it's ok, Ed…"

Nearly an hour later, the two of them sat together on the couch, Syren listening silently as Ed explained about the nightmares he would get on occasion. The storm continued to rage on outside as they remained in the lonely room.

"You've dealt with them since the incident?" Syren asked at last.

"Ever since…the transmutation went wrong, yes," Ed nodded, leaning back. "I never told anyone about them…not until I met Seiren…I never even told Al…" He fell silent at this, feeling awkward about bringing up people he'd loved and lost.

"…what was she like?" Syren asked, hugging her knees. "Your wife, I mean."

A small smile appeared on his face as he remembered her. "She was a lot like you. She loved kids…she cooked and baked a lot…she liked to hear my stories of home…she hated it when I didn't tell her what was bothering me…she was kind and gentle…she was always there when I came home…"

A smile grew on Syren's face. He was opening up a little more… "Was I really like her? I mean, we can't be clones, obviously, but…"

"I think you could be," Ed objected. "Appearance and behavior-wise, you're almost exactly like her…almost."

She looked away at his emphasis at "almost". "I know I can never be Seiren to you or your family, but I'd rather not. I am who I am, not some copy…"

"I know…I like you for what makes you you." Ed almost couldn't believe he'd just said that. Since when did he get so cheesy? But Syren blushed at his comment, still looking away. Thunder boomed once again, sending shivers down her spine. Without even thinking, Ed placed his robe over her shoulders, wanted to shelter her from the world.

Syren looked up at this, her brown eyes locking with his golden orbs. Smiling one again, she said, "Thanks, Ed. Really…you've become real special to me…"

Ed felt the longing in his heart again as he gazed at the girl in front of him. Syren had also become a huge part of his life…he didn't know if he would be able to survive if anything happened to her.

"…Ed?" Syren gasped when Ed placed his hands on her shoulders and neared her face.

"I'm sorry…"

Before he even understood himself, his lips were on hers.

Syren's eyes widened in shock as he kissed her. She couldn't believe what was happening. She felt his warm lips on hers, fitting in perfectly, as if they belonged there. Her eyelids fluttered as she gave in, placing her hands on his bare chest. She could sense his pain…his loneliness…

Almost as quickly as it happened, it ended. She blinked, watching Ed smash the coffee table before them with his automail arm. His face was covered with self-loathing.

"Dammit!" he cussed under his breath. "That was stupid…and sick!" As he began to beat himself up, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Ed…it's ok, really," she said softly. Blush flooded to her cheeks as she admitted, "…you're…the first person to ever show that you love me…like that…I've never been kissed before…"

Ed gawked at her in silence. "…I'M SO SICK! I'M AN OLD GEEZER STEALING FIRST KISSES!" he wailed, clawing at his own face.

Syren covered his mouth with a hand, shushing him. "You wanna wake up the boys and Mike?" she hissed, struggling not to giggle. "Seriously, Ed…do you really like me like that?"

His face instantly became red, his eyes darting away.

Smiling shyly, she hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Ed."

His heart pounding wildly, he let his arms encircle her tiny waist. "…I love you, too…Syren…" He nuzzled her dark hair, letting his fingers run through it. He softly kissed the top of her head, then forehead, then continued traveling downward to her cheek and jaw until he reached her lips. She shivered from fear and delight, the experience new to her. The kiss began as it did before, sweet and innocent…but he was hungry, needy…Syren gasped when she felt his tongue trace her lips, surprised and excited. His tongue slid in, exploring her mouth. Scared and shy, she took her turn, becoming greedy. Her heart sped up when he pushed her down so that he was on top of her, his hands trailing down her back to her waist. She loved the sensation…she wanted more…but she was scared.

"Ed…" she gasped, breathing rapidly. "Ed…please…don't…"

"Don't what?" he asked, his nose in her hair, his breath tickling her ear.

"I'm sorry, but…unless if we're…married…" she blushed, feeling stupid for having to say this. "I don't want to…"

He pulled back, shock and disgust on his face. "Did you really think I would do that to you?" he asked, frowning. "I may be old and I haven't been with another woman in years, but I promise you, I'd never force myself on you." His own face started to become a vibrant hue of red as he added, "I'm…sort of old-fashioned…"

She smiled at this and attacked him with a glomp. "In that case, since you're under control…" She kissed him once again, and he instantly fell into her spell.

"Now how will we do this when Ted, Hal, and Mike are around?" he wondered.