Why hello, dear readers! Thank you for getting me past 60 reviews!

Sorry for such a late update. I've been busy and without internet access for a while. I give you a brand spanking new chapter, full of arguments, coarse language (yes, that was a warning. Remove all small children and/or parents from room), and hinted pairings.

I won't be updating very frequently now, as SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW. For me, at least. EURGH. Ah, what a grade this will be... I'll leave it up to you to guess my age. I'm not telling anyone (Bananna Bear, MeevieRae, don't you dare!)

On other notes, I have a whole bunch of Vocaloid and Fullmetal crap on my iPod now. And a new idea for a fic that I had in the shower (isn't that where all good ideas are birthed?)

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Still.


When I returned from my flight, Ed was back in the room. He didn't say anything when I flew in the window, just looked up at me miserably. I didn't even bother to console him; he could get over it by himself.

I leaned back onto the extra bed and replayed the day. I'd never seen Ed so weak before. Maybe he does have feelings, I thought. Maybe he's not just a jerk who wants to kill me, as much as I want to believe that.

"It's been quite the day," I said, breaking the silence in the room. Both of the brothers looked up at me. They both looked so... sad. Even Al, whose face I couldn't see, seemed down. They both seemed fragile, like their composure would break at any moment. It hurt a bit, seeing them so depressed. "Guys..." I said, struggling for words. "Don't let it get to you, alright? It's hard on others when they see you like this." I offered them a small smile as I sat up.

"Louise," Ed said after a while of silence.

I looked over at him. "Yeah?"

"What was it like when you found out that the other subjects were dead?" Ed's voice cracked all over the place as he spoke. The question hit me full in the face and it took me a moment to scrape up an answer.

"Brother," Al warned.

"It's alright," I said. "Before I left the Lab, I didn't really have any feelings except fear, pain, and exhaustion. Then, I was just Twelve, a person used as an experiment. I had no purpose other than that, so I didn't need to feel anything. But I felt. Learning about their deaths... sure, it was painful, but I got over it. They were my family, and it was hard losing them. But, they're gone, and there's nothing I can do about it." I took a deep breath before venturing further. "It's the same with Hughes. He's gone. You can't bring him back. You just have to deal with it."

"I know," Ed said. "It's just so hard to cope with."

"You'll get over it," I said. "Just... uh, get some sleep. You'll feel better."

Yeah, like he'd be sleeping any time soon.

"...Alright. Thanks, Louise."

"For what?"

Silence.

"G'night," I grumbled, curling up under the bed sheets and turning my back to the world.

.:~*-*~:.

Winry was in the room the next morning, silently scrubbing Al's back with a cloth, cleaning the dirt off him. Ed was on his side on the other bed in the room, staring out the window. It was late morning by the looks of it, probably almost noon. No one spoke for a long time.

"When you look close, you're all scratched up, aren't you," Winry said, her voice heavy with sadness. "You're having a rough time of it, huh?" Al chuckled nervously. Winry stopped scrubbing Al's back and turned to Ed, who didn't make any move to turn around and talk to her. I sat up groggily and looked around. "Good morning, Louise."

"Morning, guys," I mumbled.

"So," Winry said to Ed, "what have you got planned now?" The young alchemist didn't reply. "Well, Ed?"

There was a pause where Ed lifted one hand off the mattress. "What are we going to do?" He clenched his automail hand into a fist. Winry turned back to Al. "What do you think?"

The mechanic turned back around, giving Ed an astounded look.

Ed flipped over onto his back. "What's with the face?"

"I-I'm just surprised. You've never asked for my advice before."

"That's a surprise," I snorted under my breath. Ed made sure to glare at me over his shoulder before looking back at the other two.

"Oh," Ed said intelligently. Winry put her hand on the back of Al's neck.

"I'm scared, you know?" Winry said. "You and Al have been off somewhere fighting and digging up information. Information that could get you killed like Mr. Hughes." Ed didn't react. "Whenever I think about that, it terrifies me. I mean, you could die. I'd still be here, and you'd just suddenly... not be there anymore. Like my mom and dad."

I feel the same way, I wanted to say, but it would only add to the grief. My family's gone too. And if Ed died... well, I honestly wouldn't care that much, but it would be sad for a lot of people.

"It's almost more than I can handle," Winry went on, "thinking about that. Honestly, sometimes I wish you would just give this whole thing up. I do want you to get your bodies back, but I also want you to stay alive and safe. It's just... I don't know." She was quiet for a moment, then she looked back at Ed. "I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what I think you should do. I really don't know."

Al giggled. "You're sure being nice, Winry."

"Wow, Al. Way to kill the mood," I muttered. Winry did a weird twitchy thing and whirled on Al, blushing furiously.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" she squeaked. "I'm always nice! Take that back!" She started hitting Al, and he objected, trying to fend her off with his hands. Ed just looked at them and smiled. I watched, amused, as the two went at each other.

But Ed was right. What are we going to do now? I thought. Things seem to have calmed down, so maybe I'll go back to the kids or something. Or maybe I can tag along with the Elrics for a while. I scrunched up my face. Never mind. The thought of spending more time than necessary with Ed disgusts me.

"Louise, what're you making that face for?" Ed asked. I looked over at him.

"Oh, I was just thinking about how I should probably leave. There's no sense in tagging along with you guys any more if I don't have to. I feel like a burden," I replied. Ed stared at me.

"And..." he gestured for me to go on.

"And how I don't want to spend any more time with you. You in particular," I said nonchalantly, taking particular interest in a cuticle on my index finger.

"Hey!" he objected.

"Glad to see you're back to your old self," I smirked. "No, scratch that. I liked the other version."

"Shut up!" Ed exploded. "Why do you have to act like I'm the worst thing in the world?"

"Because you're fun to irritate. And it's part of my personality."

"Yeah, well what about last night with that sappy thing about the other Subjects, huh? Was that in your personality?"

I stood up abruptly and glared at him. "Low blow, dickhead. Don't even go there! I've told you once, and I'll tell you again: don't mock them!"

He stood up too, towering over me by a few inches. "Yeah, well, you always mock me, so why can't I return the favour?"

"What if I said that your mom was a prostitute? How would you feel then?" I retorted.

"My mother was not a prostitute!" Ed roared.

"Exactly! That's how it feels when you insult them!"

"Ed, Louise, please stop arguing!" Al interrupted. We both turned our heads sharply and glared at him.

"Shut up!" we ordered, then looked back at each other. "Stop copying me!"

Al sighed. "Do I have to separate you two?"

"Other Subjects? What do you mean?" Winry asked.

"Oh, great, Ed," I sighed. "You blew it. I trusted you to at least keep that a secret."

"That's practically like trusting me with your life! If you hate me so much, why do you trust me with anything?"

"Who else do I have to trust?" I said, gesturing to the general area of everywhere. Al came up and pushed me away from his brother by the shoulder.

"Please stop arguing," he ordered firmly.

"You know what? I was just going to leave anyway, to go back to my family," I said, glaring daggers (really sharp, poisonous daggers aimed at his eyes) at Ed. "Thanks for the hospitality." With that, I gave Ed the finger, grabbed my bag, stalked out the door and slammed it shut behind me. I walked out to the streets and starting to navigate my way back home.

"Stupid, mother-effing jerk of a State Alchemist military dog," I muttered.

But I didn't say "effing." To hell with covering it up in front of small children.

I piddled around Central for a while, absolutely lost. I couldn't track the scent of the kids, so I settled with finding another place to stay. I had no money (well, none that I could rent an apartment with) and no place to go. I sat down on a park bench, sighed, and ran my hands down my face.

"Geez, Twelve, what are you going to do with yourself?" I muttered, looking up. Across the park, through the trees, I swear I saw a flash of curly blonde hair. I stood up and tried to get a look, but the head disappeared before I could find it again.

Four? I thought.

"Hey," someone said. I looked over to see Jonathan strolling up to me.

"Small world," I muttered.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" he asked. "Shouldn't you be with the Elrics or something?"

"We had a little... misunderstanding," I muttered. "Ed was... going places he wasn't supposed to."

"Oh," Jonathan said, then a look of realization dawned on his face. "Oh."

"Not like that, dumbass!" I hissed. "He just pushed the wrong buttons."

Jonathan smirked. "Oh, I see." He sat down on the bench and I followed suit. "So, do you need a place to stay?"

"Yeah, I guess I do," I said.

"You can come stay with me for a while if you want," Jonathan offered. "We have a spare room."

"Oh... that's nice. Thanks," I said.

"I live a couple blocks down. It's not a far walk," he said.

"Cool," I said. "Let's go." We stood up and started walking down the road.

"How's your arm?" Jonathan asked.

"Perfectly fine," I said, flexing it. "I didn't really need the sling, though."

"You should have kept it. I can't have my first patient disobeying orders," he said, winking at me.

"I was your first?" I asked. He nodded. "Oh, I feel all warm and fuzzy now."

"You're really sarcastic, you know that?"

"Nooo," I said, rolling my eyes. "I never noticed!"

"Oh, look, we're here," he said. We stood in front of a small, light blue townhouse. Jonathan pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. "No one's home right now. Your room will be upstairs, first door on the left."

"Thank you," I said. "Really, thanks."

"Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No, I kind of just woke up and booked it."

"Oh, alright. We have some leftover eggs, if you want some."

Wouldn't that be considered cannibalism? I thought. "Eggs sound great."

Jonathan set a plate down on the kitchen table and I sat as he did. "Just to let you know, my family is kind of insane. My mom's a huge believer in God, and my dad's an alchemist, so he's an atheist. It's a miracle that they're still married. My little brother is really annoying, so watch out."

"How old is he?"

"Ten."

"I can handle it," I smirked, putting a piece of egg in my mouth.

"Really?"

"Trust me, I can handle a lot," I said. Well, a lot, save anything relating to the other Subjects...My mind flashed back to Ed, and I wanted to rip his head off.

"So, what happened between you and Ed?"

Oh, you have lovely timing, Jonathan. "We just got in an argument about some... stuff. I left because I was pissed. It's not a big deal."

"You make it sound like you're his girlfriend or something."

"Don't say that," I said sharply. "I am not, and never will be, his girlfriend."

"Alright, I didn't mean to offend you or anything. Although," he put a finger to his mouth in thought, "you would be cute together." I kicked him hard under the table and he groaned in pain.

"Say that again and it'll be your balls," I warned.

"You're really violent," Jonathan muttered.

"Whatever," I said. I picked up my plate and put it in the sink. "First room on the left, right?"

"Yeah," Jonathan said, rubbing his leg.

"I'll be in there if you need me," I said, then went upstairs. There was a bunk bed in my room, so I plopped down on the bottom bunk and laid there for the rest of the day. At some point, I heard Jonathan explaining my situation to his parents, who seemed okay with it. Then, way later in the day, some time before dinner, there was a thunk as something hit the front door. Curious, I grabbed my bag and padded downstairs. After a quick introduction to Jonathan's parents, Jeremy and Charlotte, and his little brother, Thomas, I picked up the evening edition of the paper.

And walked straight out the door after I read the headline.

"What is it?" Jonathan asked, grabbing my shoulder. I shook him off. "Hey! Where are you going?"

"To find the Elrics," I replied. "Whatever is going on here is really bad."

"Wait up! You can't just leave!"

"Oh, yes I can!" I shouted as the house grew farther away. "Do yourself a favour and stay inside tonight!" I ran into a secluded alley and took off, tracking the smell of Winry's automail stuff back to the hotel.

I'm assuming you want to know what the headline said.

Well, I'm not telling you.

I flew in the window as Ed started reading a notebook. I then proceeded to throw my bag at him and hit him in the face.

"What the hell was that for?" he shouted, peeling the bag off and throwing it back at me. "And what makes you think you can just come waltzing back in here?"

"That was for being such a dick," I replied. "And I'm here because you need to find a copy of the evening edition newspaper."

"Why?"

"Because-"

"BROTHER!" The door burst open and Al charged in, carrying a copy of, what do you know, the evening edition newspaper. Ed cried out and jumped a few inches. "Here," Al said, a lot more quietly.

"Don't scare me like that," Ed said.

"In that case, keep it up, Al," I said, doing everything just to annoy the older Elric.

"The newspaper, Ed!" Al said, completely ignoring me. "Read the front page!"

"Hm?" Ed said, perking up suddenly. "What is it now?" He took the newspaper and read the front.

"What?" he gasped. "'Second Lieutenant Ross convicted of Brigadier General Hughes' murder'?"

"Like I said, you needed to find one," I told him, and he glared at me.


Aaaand, that's the chapter! Not much in the way of plot, but quite entertaining!

We all know what happens next...

See you next time, dear readers!

See that blue hyperlink down there? Yeah, that one. The one that your mouse is hovering above. Yep, that one. Now click it for free... uh, Louise plushies?

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