Okay. So I couldn't resist updating another chapter. It's just that I love this chapter so much. It's so dang fluffy! So read and enjoy the fluff.

Chapter 11

Bunnies

(-Ed-)

Ed, Al, and Taylor arrived at Central Headquarters just as Mustang and Hawkeye did. With peasantries aside, Ed was now in Mustang's office. Alphonse and Taylor were waiting patiently out in the hall.

Ed had quickly told the Colonel about their run in with Scar.

"There have been sightings of him all over Central." Mustang commented. "There are even reports of him being at the scene at the time of the incident at the National Central Library." Mustang reached for his phone and had a quick conversation with whomever he called. He asked for two people to come to his office.

"Now then," he said, getting back to Ed. "I'm sure you're wondering about Arcadia."

"Yes." Ed had been curious ever since they left.

"Shortly after you left for Arcadia I uncovered some information about Ronin. Edgar Ronin was just an alias. His real name was Joseph Draden. Draden used to be a State Alchemist but it was believed he died in the was in Ishval."

"You're kidding." Ed said, fascinated.

Mustang shook his head solemnly. "Draden was suspected of using humans in his experiments but no one could prove it. The military was about to launch a full scale investigation when Draden faked his death in Ishval. Joseph Draden was the apprentice of a Doctor Marcoh, a deserter from the war."

That name, Marcoh. Taylor had mentioned a Marcoh at the library. Was he the same guy?

"Marcoh had a close cousin living in Arcadia. I went to pay her a visit in order to locate Marcoh and see if he was connected to Draden's recent activities. But I learned Marcoh was murdered days ago."

"Murdered?" Ed wondered if Taylor knew anything about this.

There was a knock on the door, interrupting their conversation.

"Enter." Mustang commanded.

Two officers, a man and a woman, came into the office.

"Ed, I'd like you to meet Maria Ross and Denny Brosh. They will be your bodyguards."

"Bodyguards?" Ed stared at Mustang, alarmed. "What do I need bodyguards for?"

Mustang shook his head in dismay, "Have you forgotten already that you were attacked by a serial killer?"

Oh, Actually, Ed had. But that was besides the point. "I don't need bodyguards."

"Scar almost killed you today." Mustang reminded him, letting his anger show through his voice. "The last thing I need on my plate right now is another dead State Alchemist. Ross and Brosh will be your bodyguards. That's final."

Ed wasn't going to get any leeway on this one. If he pressed the issue he would just end up making Mustang furious. So, unwillingly, Ed was going to have to accept this.

(-Taylor-)

Al and I were waiting patiently in the hall when two familiar officers went into Mustang's office.

"I wonder what's going on." Al said when the door closed back.

I smiled, "Ed's getting bodyguards."

"How did you…" Al began to ask but shook his head. He realized it was pointless to ask. "Why would Ed be getting bodyguards?" he asked instead.

"To protect him from Scar."

The door opened again and out walked a dismal Ed and his new bodyguards. "You guys are never going to believe what just happened."

I hopped up, "You got bodyguards?"

Ed gave me a startled look but, just like Al, let it slide. "Yeah."

"I have to say, its pretty sad when my bodyguard needs bodyguards."

We made introductions with the officers and we left for the dormitories. Maybe I didn't fully comprehend it yet but later on I was sure to find Ross and Brosh's shadowing our every move overbearing.

(-Taylor-)

The dorm room was on the small side but we all fit comfortably. Ross and Brosh were standing guard outside in the hall while Ed, Al, and I were in here.

No sooner than when we all sat down, Ed demanded, "Spill it, Taylor."

"Spill what?" I honestly had no idea what he meant.

Ed told us about his chat with Mustang. "Why did you ask about Marcoh?" he finished up with the question.

Thinking on my feet, I replied, "I knew about Doctor Marcoh. I was just wondering if you guys had met him." I kept myself composed but underneath I was brimming with questions. Why hadn't Ed and Al ever met Marcoh? Who murdered him? Was it the homunculi? That's what happened in the series. Lust kills Marcoh after forcing him to reveal where his research was. Lust later goes to the library to find his notes but is thwarted by Scar. The end result was what we saw today. But was that what happened in real life?

The realization of this situation hit me. If Ed and Al never met Marcoh then they'd never know about his notes. Subsequently, they wouldn't discover how the Philosopher's Stone is created. This would mess up the whole timeline.

Ed interrupted my thought, "You're thinking awfully hard about this."

I waved my hands and scrambled my words, "No, I'm- what I mean is- I'm not- oh…" I finally decided to say, "I think I have to tell you guys something."

I went on to explain, "Doctor Marcoh was researching the Philosopher's Stone."

The boys took that well. They demended to hear more, Al asking, "Did he ever create one?"

"Um, yes, sort of."

"How can it be 'sort of'?" Ed questioned me. "Did he create one or not?"

"No. But he created incomplete versions of it. They were used in the Ishval rebellion before the doctor went AWOL. He deserted his post because he couldn't stand to see people die by his invention."

"The Ishval rebellion?" Al repeated, making sure he heard right.

"Uh-huh." I confirmed.

"So he never learned how to make a real Philosopher's Stone." Ed concluded, regretful.

"That's the thing. Though Doctor Marcoh never created one he found out how to make one."

Ed and Al jumped at that. "How do you make one?" they both asked excitedly.

"I don't know." I said truthfully. "But Marcoh wrote his findings down on his notes."

"And where are these notes?" Ed asked.

"The National Central Library, 1st Branch. But it's destroyed now."

Ed groaned, "Figures."

"Is that everything?" Al asked me, desperation in his voice. "Have you told us everything?"

I crossed my arms and bowed my head in thought. Should I tell them?

"Taylor?" Ed asked. "Is there something else?"

I clenched my teeth. "Let me think about it." I stood and began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Ed asked me.

"I'm going to take a shower. I'll be back in a few." Then I left the room.

(-Ed-)

Ed tapped his foot, watching the movement. "What is she hiding?"

Al consoled him, "I'm sure if it's important she'll tell us."

"And what if it is and she doesn't?"

"Then there must be a good reason that she wouldn't tell us." Al always did believe the best in people.

"She's known this from the beginning." Ed said, frustrated. "She knew those notes were there and yet she waits until after they're destroyed to tell us about them."

"Brother," Al began. "You're not saying that she's untrustworthy, are you? She's our friend."

"I'm not saying that. I'm just suspicious is all. If she's hid this from us what else is she hiding?" Ed continued to tap his foot, considering the many possibilities.

"You know, we would probably be dead right now if it wasn't for Taylor." Al commented.

Ed stopped tapping. "I know. Maybe Mustang's right. Ugh, that's something I thought I'd never say."

"What about?"

"Maybe someone else should be guarding Taylor." Ed hated to say it but it was true. This was the second time Ed had failed as her bodyguard. What use was he if he couldn't protect her?

Al laughed, in spite of it all, "Who are you going to leave her with? Major Armstrong?"

Ed grimaced, "That would be cruel."

Al's demeanor changed as he asked, "You aren't seriously considering resigning from this mission, are you?"

Ed slumped further into his chair, blowing out a gust of breath, "I don't know. It was just a thought."

"Well stop thinking about it then!" Al nearly shouted at him.

Al sat up, surprised, "What?"

"You can't keep doubting yourself, Brother. And if you're not committed to this mission then all you're going to do is fail."

Ed absorbed how determined he was. "You're absolutely right.

"I agree."

Ed and Al looked up in surprise. Taylor stood in the doorway of the bathroom, hair still damp. Ed hadn't even noticed the noise of the shower was gone. He wondered how much of their conversation she had heard.

"I don't want another bodyguard, Ed." Taylor stated. "And it really annoys me that you didn't even ask me about it before you thought about quitting."

"But today…" Ed trailed off.

"Today was different. In fact, there's a lot of things that are different. But that's besides the point. It's my opinion that matters. And I want you, Ed. Not someone else. You. I think you're capable, more than capable of being my bodyguard. Why can't you?"

It was words like these that affected him so much. Taylor's belief in him. Her absolute faith, was unshakable, even if Ed's was. It made him admire her that much more.

Ed couldn't speak but he nodded. Taylor, taking that as a sign, nodded as well. She sat down in a chair and sighed, "I know I've been keeping things from you guys and I apologize for that. But this is such a new and confusing experience for me, being here. And if I say or do the wrong thing people could die."

"You're serious." Ed said.

Taylor nodded solemnly, "I am. Things have already changed since I got here. If I mess up then things might go bad. I didn't tell you about Doctor Marcoh and his notes before now because you were suppose to meet him and find out on your own."

"We were suppose to meet him?" Al questioned. "Does that mean you really can tell the future?"

Taylor shook her head and tried to explain, "Not exactly. How do I put this? I know of certain events that were meant to take place. Like when you guys tried to bring your mother back or when Ed became a State Alchemist. But ever since I got here things have been changing. For instance: Joseph Draden. I've never heard of him. Also, you never met Doctor Marcoh."

An idea occurred to Ed. He felt ridiculous but he had to ask. "The other side of the gate… Is that the future?"

Taylor didn't laugh at least. "No. It's like an alternate dimension. It's- gosh, this is hard to explain." She rubbed her temple tiredly. "All I can say is I know what I know. Yes, it's weird, but that's the way it is."

Ed was sill absorbing this when Al said, "Thank you for telling us this."

His thanks was not what Taylor had expected, "Oh, you're welcome. It's the least I could do for everything you guys have done for me." She paused and went on, "There is one more things I need to tell you, about the library."

"What is it?" Al asked.

"There's a librarian who worked there. Her name's Sheska. She's read Marcoh's notes and can tell you everything he wrote in them."

"Where does she live?" Ed jumped up, ready to go.

Taylor gave him a look of annoyance, "I don't know. I'm not an address book. Go ask someone who works at the library. They can tell you."

Ed went for the door but his plans were crushed by a stern couple of officers. They told him he was restricted to the dormitories until light tomorrow. Ed could find no way through them and was, irritatingly, forced to stay put.

"How can they expect me to stay here when the secret to the Philosopher's Stone is in this city somewhere?" Ed was so close he could almost taste it.

"Settle down. She'll still be there tomorrow. It's not going to kill you to wait one night." Taylor tried to calm him.

"How would you-," Ed broke off in mid sentence. He was going to say 'How would you know?' but Ed got to thinking. Maybe she did know. Maybe she comprehended better than anyone how agonizing it was to wait even one night for this. The suffering him and especially Al had endured for years.

Taylor said they would make it through the night. So Ed stopped complaining and believed her.

(-Taylor-)

There was a minor problem with the bedroom: there was only one bed. Ed and I were fighting over it but not in the way you'd think.

"I'll take the floor." Ed offered.

"That's alright. You can take the bed."

"I'm not going to make you take the floor." Ed said as if that were outrageous.

"Why, cause I'm a girl?" I asked.

Ed made a face and instantly said, "No." But, of course, that was exactly what he was thinking.

"Look, just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm fragile. For your information girls are as durable as guys are." I spouted angrily.

"I didn't say any of that!" Ed replied. "I was just trying to be a gentleman and give you the bed."

"Cause I'm a girl." I repeated.

"Arg, that's not what I meant!" Ed was practically pulling his hair out. "I was just trying to be polite and you're getting angry because of it."

"And I'm trying to be polite." I retorted.

"And you don't have to. I'll take the floor. You can have the bed."

"But I want to be." I argued. "You may have the bed and I will take the floor."

"I'll take the floor." Ed persisted firmly.

"Grr!" I growled in frustration. "Why don't we just share the bed?"

That threw Ed for a loop. "Wha- What?"

"It's big enough." I reasoned. "And either you sleep on the bed with me or I'll sleep on the floor."

Ed was too shocked by my proposal to do anything but consider it. His brows furrowed as he thought about it seriously.

"Okay." he surrendered, a little unsure.

"What?" Now it was my turn to be surprised.

"You're right. The bed's big enough. We can share it." Ed gestured to the bed.

"But I was bluffing." I squeaked.

Ed pointed a finger at me and laughed, "Oh, no. You're not getting out of this. You're the one who suggested it."

"Fine then." I threw up my hands and marched to the side of the bed. I laid down facing outward, crossed my arms tightly, and closed my eyes.

I'm not sure how Ed reacted because I refused to open my eyes. I don't think he really expected me to get in the bed. He waited a minute and then came over to the other side of the bed. I tracked his movement by the sound of his footsteps. He lowered himself gently on the bed as not to jostle it.

I peeked over my shoulder. All I saw was his golden braid of hair and his back. He was closer than I thought.

Quickly, I turned back to the wall. My heart rate sped up and I struggled to breathe normally. Just forget he's there and go to sleep, I told myself…Wait. I had Edward Elric on the same bed with me and I was trying to go to sleep? Why was I not taking advantage of this situation?

Don't think about it. Just think about something else. I searched my mind for something, anything else. Bunnies! Just think about bunnies.

…How did Ed feel about this? What was he thinking about? Well, he definitely wasn't thinking about bunnies, that's for sure.

(-Ed-)

Ed tried to remain calm and not think about the girl that lay right behind him. Just think about alchemy. Think about alchemy.

(-Taylor-)

After ten minutes I was still nowhere near sleep. You'd think it would be easy, what with the stressful day I'd had. But no. I was still awake. And thoughts of bunnies were not helping.

"Taylor?" Ed spoke softly.

Eeek! He was awake too. What should I do? Should I pretend to be asleep? No, I couldn't. I wasn't that good a pretender.

"…Yeah?" I answered tentatively.

"Tell me about the other side." I could tell by his voice that he was dying to know.

It wouldn't hurt to tell him, would it? I mean, as long as I left out the part about my Philosopher's Stone, it was okay. I hoped.

"Well, for starters, there's no alchemy." I began.

The bed moved, probably because he turned to look at me, "You're kidding. No alchemy? Is that why you've never tried it before?"

"Yeah."

"No alchemy." Ed pondered. "Really?"

"None. On my side, the science of physics instead of alchemy has developed. Our technological advances are, uh, advanced."

"What's that like?" he asked.

"It's great. We never have to ride trains because we have transportation that gets us there faster, like planes."

"What's a plane?"

I smiled and glanced over my shoulder. Ed had turned over to face me and his expression was intrigued. I decided to roll over as well to talk to him. Besides, my body was getting stiff from laying in the same position for so long.

Trying my best to ignore how close he was, I explained, "Planes are enormous. They can hold a lot of people and they fly in the air."

Ed narrowed his eyes, "Now I know you're lying."

"Seriously." I grinned. "They have metal wings on either side and they have giant engines or motors or whatever to power them and get them up and flying. I can't really go into a lot of detail, since I have no idea how a plane is made. But people fly on planes everyday where I come from. They're about ten times faster than trains."

"Amazing." Ed breathed. "Except for the no alchemy it already sounds better than this side."

"There are things better on this side than mine." I told him. "For instance: automail. We don't have anything that can compare with that."

Ed laughed, "If Winry went there she'd die."

"I think the rest of it would make up for that."

So I told him. I explained to him all the things that were different on my side. He had a never ending supply of questions for me. His eyes shined with every new thing he learned.

"Do you miss it?" he asked me.

This question surprised me. It was more personnel than the others. "I- I haven't really thought about it. But now that you mention it… Yeah, I do."

What had happened after I had come here? Did time on my side simply stop? Surely not. And what about Mom and Joeli?

"I miss my mom and sister." I admitted.

"What about your father?" he asked curiously.

I smiled, "I guess you could say we have more in common than our hatred for milk. My dad walked out on my family a while back."

"Just like mined." Ed concluded.

I had my eyes closed. I didn't remember closing them. Somehow, talking to Ed was pushing me towards sleep. I had to fight to stay awake.

"I wonder if they know I'm gone." I went on. "Are they looking for me? Do they miss me?"

"Of course they miss you."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked teasingly. But really, I wanted to know.

"Because I know you." Ed answered simply. "And if you were gone I'd…"

'You'd what?"

Ed finished, saying, "I would miss you."

I smiled, my eyes still closed, "I'd miss you too, Edward." A minute of silence later, I asked, "Hey, Ed?"

"Yeah?"

"We're friends, right?"

I didn't know what his expression was but his voice held amusement, "Right." After a short period of time I heard, "Taylor?"

I blinked, "Wha-?" I hadn't been aware of it but Ed had been telling me something before he said my name. "Sorry. You're voice is making me sleepy."

Ed chuckled, "Does my voice sound that boring to you?"

"No." I said, my eyes sliding closed. I couldn't keep them open. "Your voice isn't boring. It's…nice…soothing."

I began to drift off to sleep. My eyes may have been shut but, somehow, I knew Ed was smiling sweetly at me.

Awww. I loves it! XD Taylor said that if this really happened to her she would totally take advantage of the situation.

I know there probably was more than one bed but I just had to put this in. I got the idea from Taylor when she said, "Me and Ed should fight over the bed." And then I jsut had to write it. I hope you liked it!